Shloka 6
Varṇāśrama-ācāra and Vikarma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry on Safe Dharmas (शिवधर्मप्रश्नः)
एतान्येव निमित्तानि मुनीनामूर्थ्वरेतसाम् । कर्तव्यानीह विप्रेण राजन्नादौ विपक्षिता,राजन! विद्वान् ब्राह्मणको ऊर्ध्वरेता मुनियोंद्वारा आचरणमें लाये हुए इन्हीं साधनोंका सर्वप्रथम आश्रय लेना चाहिये
etāny eva nimittāni munīnām ūrdhvaretasām | kartavyānīha vipreṇa rājann ādau vipakṣitā ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Ó Rei, estas mesmas disciplinas e observâncias são os meios reconhecidos, seguidos pelos sábios que praticam a continência por toda a vida. Aqui, um brāhmaṇa erudito deve, antes de tudo, adotar e pôr em prática essas medidas prescritas.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma emphasizes that the foundational means to spiritual steadiness—especially for those pursuing celibate asceticism—are specific prescribed disciplines, and that a learned brāhmaṇa should adopt these first, as the primary step in right conduct.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues advising the king on dharma. Here he points to the established practices of ūrdhvaretas sages and tells the king that these prescribed observances should be taken up first by a wise brāhmaṇa.