Shloka 11
संधेयासंधेय-पुरुषनिर्णयः (Criteria for Allies and Non-Allies) — with the opening of the Gautama narrative
ऋषय: पितरो देवा मनुष्या मृगपक्षिण: । यानि चान्यानि भूतानि स्थावराणि चराणि च
ṛṣayaḥ pitaro devā manuṣyā mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ | yāni cānyāni bhūtāni sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: Ang mga rishi, ang mga ninuno (pitṛ), ang mga diyos, ang mga tao, ang mga hayop at mga ibon—at lahat pang nilalang, maging di-gumagalaw o gumagalaw—ay nakatuon sa tapas. Sa pamamagitan ng tapas nila natatamo ang tagumpay; gayundin, maging ang mga diyos ay nakaabot sa maringal na kalagayan sa pamamagitan ng tapas.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Tapas—disciplined austerity and sustained self-control—is presented as a universal principle by which all classes of beings gain power, stability, and attainment; even divine status and high positions are said to be achieved through tapas.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma is teaching about the foundations of dharma and spiritual efficacy. Here he emphasizes, by listing all orders of beings (from sages and gods to animals and plants), that austerity is a common means to accomplishment and elevated states.