तपःस्वाध्यायशीला हि दृश्यन्ते धार्मिका जना: । ऋषयस्तपसा युक्ता येषां लोका: सनातना:,उत्तरेण तु पन्थानमार्या विषयनिग्रहात् | अबुद्धिजं तमस्त्यक्त्वा लोकांस्त्यागवतां गता:
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |
Tapaḥsvādhyāyaśīlā hi dṛśyante dhārmikā janāḥ |
Ṛṣayas tapasā yuktā yeṣāṃ lokāḥ sanātanāḥ |
Uttareṇa tu panthānam āryā viṣayanigrahāt |
Abuddhijaṃ tamas tyaktvā lokāṃs tyāgavatāṃ gatāḥ ||
युधिष्ठिर उवाच—तपःस्वाध्यायशीला हि दृश्यन्ते धार्मिका जनाः। ऋषयस्तपसा युक्ता येषां लोकाः सनातनाः॥ उत्तरेण तु पन्थानमार्या विषयनिग्रहात्। अबुद्धिजं तमस्त्यक्त्वा लोकांस्त्यागवतां गताः॥
युधिछिर उवाच
Dharma is strengthened by disciplined practice—tapas and svādhyāya—and perfected through viṣayanigraha (sense-restraint). By abandoning ignorance-born darkness, one becomes fit for the ‘higher path’ and the renunciant’s goal, described as enduring realms and spiritual elevation.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction-oriented setting, Yudhiṣṭhira reflects on what marks truly dhārmika persons: their commitment to austerity and sacred learning, the example of ṛṣis who attain lasting worlds, and the superior course of the āryas who conquer the senses and move toward renunciation.