अनुशासनपर्व अध्याय ९३ — तपस्, सदोपवास, विघसाशन, अतिथिप्रियता
Austerity, regulated fasting, residual-eating, and hospitality
स्वाध्यायनिष्ठा ऋषयो ज्ञाननिष्ठास्तथैव च | तपोनिष्छाश्ष बोद्धव्या: कर्मनिष्ठाश्न भारत
svādhyāyaniṣṭhā ṛṣayo jñānaniṣṭhās tathaiva ca | taponiṣṭhāś ca boddhavyāḥ karmaniṣṭhāś ca bhārata bhārata ||
ภีษมะกล่าวว่า “โอ้ ภารตะ พึงรู้ว่าในหมู่ฤๅษีมีผู้มั่นคงในสวาธยายะ (การศึกษาพระเวท), มีผู้มั่นคงในญาณ, มีผู้มั่นคงในตบะ และมีผู้มั่นคงในกรรมอันมีวินัย”
भीष्म उवाच
Bhīṣma teaches that spiritual excellence is not confined to a single method: sages may be firmly grounded in sacred study, knowledge, austerity, or dutiful action. Each can be a valid discipline when pursued with steadiness (niṣṭhā) and aligned with dharma.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he classifies sages by their predominant commitment—study, knowledge, austerity, or action—guiding the king to respect diverse legitimate modes of religious and ethical life.