Shloka 5
Anuśāsana-parva Adhyāya 112: Dharma as the sole companion; karmic witnesses; rebirth sequences
Bṛhaspati–Yudhiṣṭhira Saṃvāda
निर्ममा निरहंकारा निर्दधन्धा निष्परिग्रहा: | शुचयस्तीर्थभूतास्ते ये भैक्ष्यमुपभुज्जते
bhīṣma uvāca | nirmamā nirahaṅkārā nirdvandvā niṣparigrahāḥ | śucayas tīrthabhūtās te ye bhaikṣyam upabhuñjate ||
निर्ममा निरहंकारा निर्द्वन्द्वा निष्परिग्रहाः । शुचयस्तीर्थभूतास्ते ये भैक्ष्यमुपभुञ्जते ॥ येषां ममता नास्ति, अहंकारो नास्ति, रागद्वेषादिद्वन्द्वातीताः, परिग्रहरहिताश्च ये; ये च भैक्ष्येण जीवनं निर्वहन्ति, ते विशुद्धान्तःकरणाः साधवः स्वयमेव तीर्थस्वरूपा भवन्ति।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A truly holy person is defined not by external rites but by inner freedom: absence of possessiveness and ego, equanimity beyond dualities, and non-accumulation. Such a person, living simply on alms, becomes ‘tīrtha-like’—a source of purification and moral inspiration for others.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (Anushasana Parva), he describes the marks of purified ascetics and virtuous renouncers. He elevates their disciplined, non-possessive life as itself a sacred presence, comparable to a pilgrimage-site.