Shloka 6
ऋत्विग्धर्मः, दक्षिणा-न्यायः, तपसः परमार्थः
Ritvij-Dharma, the Norm of Dakṣiṇā, and the Higher Meaning of Tapas
अहिंसको ज्ञानतृप्त: स ब्रह्मासनमर्हति । एते महर्त्विजस्तात सर्वे मान्या यथाहत:
ahiṃsako jñānatṛptaḥ sa brahmāsanam arhati | ete mahartvijaḥ tāta sarve mānyā yathāhataḥ ||
பீஷ்மர் கூறினார்—அஹிம்சை உடையவனாகவும், உண்மையான ஞானத்தால் நிறைவடைந்தவனாகவும் இருப்பவனே பிரம்மாசனத்தில் அமரத் தகுதியுடையவன். மகனே! இம்மகா ருத்விக்கள் அனைவரும் தத்தம் தகுதிக்கேற்ப மரியாதைக்குரியவர்கள்.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma links the highest spiritual eligibility (“Brahmā’s seat”) to ethical restraint: non-violence and inner fulfillment born of knowledge. He also teaches proportional respect—honor is due to worthy persons (here, great priests) according to their merit and role.
In the instruction-heavy Shanti Parva, Bhishma is advising Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. In this verse he praises the ideal of the non-violent, knowledge-satisfied person as supremely qualified, and he affirms that the eminent sacrificial priests present are all to be honored appropriately.