Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 19
Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda
Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity
यौ तौ कामगुणोपेतावद्चिनौ भिषजां वरौ । आज्ञयाहं तयो: प्राप्त: सनरान् पितृदैवतान्
yau tau kāmaguṇopetau aśvinau bhiṣajāṃ varau | ājñayāhaṃ tayoḥ prāptaḥ sa-narān pitṛ-daivatān ||
“Ang dalawang iyon—ang kambal na Aśvin, pinakadakila sa mga manggagamot at pinagkalooban ng kaakit-akit na mga katangian—sa kanilang utos ako’y naparito, sa mga diyos, sa mga Pitṛ (mga ninuno), at sa sangkatauhan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights rightful deference to legitimate authority: Bhishma acts under the command of revered divine physicians (the Ashvins), suggesting that dharmic action often proceeds through sanctioned guidance rather than personal impulse.
Bhishma identifies the Ashvin twins as eminent healers and explains that, following their instruction, he has come into the presence of multiple orders of beings—gods, ancestors (Pitrs), and humans—indicating a message or mission spanning cosmic and social realms.