Shloka 35
बहुकथितमिदं हि बुद्धिमद्धिः कविभिरपि प्रथयद्धिरात्मकीर्तिम् । इदमिदमिति तत्र तत्र हन््त स्वपरमतैर्गहनं प्रतर्कयद्धि:ः,“अपनी कीर्तिका विस्तार करनेवाले विद्वानों और बुद्धिमानोंने अपने और दूसरोंके मतसे गहन तर्क और वितर्क करके 'ऐसे करना चाहिये" 'ऐसे करना चाहिये” इत्यादि कहकर इस व्रतकी अनेक प्रकारसे व्याख्या की है
bahukathitam idaṁ hi buddhimadbhiḥ kavibhir api prathayadbhir ātmakīrtim | idam idam iti tatra tatra hanta svaparamataiḥ gahanaṁ pratarkayadbhiḥ ||
भीष्म उवाच—बहुकथितमिदं हि बुद्धिमद्भिः कविभिरपि प्रथयद्भिरात्मकीर्तिम्। इदमिदमिति तत्र तत्र हन्त स्वपरमतैर्गहनं प्रतर्कयद्भिः॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma cautions that dharma and observances often become overlaid with competing interpretations, where scholars—sometimes driven by self-promotion—use intricate argumentation to insist on their preferred ‘right way.’ The verse highlights the need for discernment amid doctrinal debate.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma remarks to his listener that the particular vow/observance being discussed has been variously expounded by learned people. He notes how they argue from different schools of thought, repeatedly asserting their own prescriptions.