Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 7
Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda
Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity
ऋषिधर्म: स्मृतो यत्र सरहस्यो महाफल: । महादानफल चैव सर्वयज्ञफलं तथा,जिसमें महान् फल देनेवाले ऋषिधर्मका रहस्यसहित समावेश हुआ है तथा जिसके अनुष्ठानसे बड़े-बड़े दानों और सम्पूर्ण यज्ञोंका फल मिलता है
ṛṣidharmaḥ smṛto yatra sa-rahasyo mahāphalaḥ | mahādānaphalaṃ caiva sarvayajñaphalaṃ tathā ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Ang aral na iyon ay inaalala bilang Dharma ng mga Ṛṣi, kalakip ang lihim nitong diwa, at nagbubunga ng dakilang gantimpala. Sa pagsunod dito, nakakamit ang kapakinabangan ng malalaking pag-aalay at gayundin ang bunga ng lahat ng mga handog-sakripisyo.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma emphasizes that the sages’ dharma, when practiced with understanding of its inner principle (rahasya), grants immense spiritual merit—equivalent to the results of great charitable gifts and even the cumulative fruit of all sacrificial rites.
In the Anushasana Parva, Bhishma continues his instruction on dharma, praising a particular rishi-sanctioned discipline and highlighting its extraordinary efficacy by comparing its rewards to those of major donations and comprehensive yajñas.