Shloka 6
Anuśāsana-parva Adhyāya 112: Dharma as the sole companion; karmic witnesses; rebirth sequences
Bṛhaspati–Yudhiṣṭhira Saṃvāda
तत्त्ववित्त्वनहंबुद्धिस्तीर्थप्रवरमुच्यते । (नारायणे<5थ रुद्रे वा भक्तिस्तीर्थ परं॑ मता ।) शौचलक्षणमेतत् ते सर्वत्रैवान्ववेक्षत:
tattvavittvanahaṁbuddhis tīrthapravaram ucyate | (nārāyaṇe ’tha rudre vā bhaktis tīrtha-paraṁ matā |) śaucalakṣaṇam etat te sarvatraivānvavekṣataḥ |
Sinabi ni Bhishma: Ang taong nakakabatid ng katotohanan at sa kanyang buddhi ay hindi man lamang sumisibol ang isip na “ako” ay tinatawag na pinakadakilang tīrtha. Gayundin, ang bhakti na iniuukol kay Panginoong Nārāyaṇa o kay Panginoong Rudra (Śiva) ay itinuturing ding pinakamataas na paglalakbay-panrelihiyon. Ito ang tanda ng tunay na kadalisayan: kapag pinagmuni-muni mo nang mabuti, makikita mo ito sa lahat ng dako—ang kadalisayan ay hindi lamang nasa panlabas na ritwal, kundi nasa karunungang walang ego at sa matatag na debosyon.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True ‘tīrtha’ (a purifier) is not only a physical place; the highest purification is an ego-free mind grounded in truth, and sincere devotion to Nārāyaṇa or Rudra. Inner purity (śauca) is recognized by the absence of self-importance and by steady bhakti.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct. Here he reframes pilgrimage and purity as primarily inner qualities—wisdom without ego and devotion—rather than merely external travel or ritual.