Shloka 38
प्रजाविसर्ग-तत्त्वनिर्णयः | Cosmogony of Elemental Emergence
Bharadvāja–Bhṛgu Dialogue
परमात्माके साथ एकता तथा समता, सत्यभाषण, सदाचार, ब्रह्मनिष्ठा, दण्डका परित्याग (अहिंसा), सरलता तथा सब प्रकारके सकाम कर्मोंसे उपरति--इनके समान ब्राह्मणके लिये दूसरा कोई धन नहीं है ।।
paramātmake sārdham ekatā samatā ca, satyabhāṣaṇam, sadācāraḥ, brahmaniṣṭhā, daṇḍaparityāgaḥ (ahiṃsā), saralatā ca sarvaprakārasakāmakarmoparatiś ca—etaiḥ samaṃ brāhmaṇasya dvitīyaṃ dhanaṃ nāsti. kiṃ te dhanair bāndhavair vāpi? kiṃ te? kiṃ te dāraiḥ, brāhmaṇa, yo mariṣyasi? ātmānam anviccha guhāṃ praviṣṭaṃ; pitāmahās te kva gatāḥ pitā ca.
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Para sa isang brāhmaṇa, walang ibang yaman na hihigit sa mga ito: pakikiisa at pagkakapantay ng loob sa Kataas-taasang Sarili, katotohanan sa pananalita, mabuting asal, katatagan sa Brahman, pagtalikod sa parusa—ahimsa (di-karahasan), kasimplehan, at pag-urong mula sa lahat ng gawang inuudyukan ng pagnanasa. Ano ang silbi ng kayamanan sa iyo, o maging ng mga kamag-anak? Ano ang silbi ng asawa at sambahayan sa iyo, O brāhmaṇa, yamang mamamatay ka rin? Hanapin ang Sariling pumasok sa yungib ng puso. Magnilay: saan naparoon ang iyong ama at ang iyong mga ninuno?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True ‘wealth’ for a brahmin is inner virtue and realization: unity and equanimity with the Supreme, truthfulness, ethical conduct, steadfastness in Brahman, non-violence, simplicity, and withdrawal from desire-driven actions. External possessions and relationships cannot accompany one at death; therefore one should pursue Self-inquiry and inner realization.
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs on dharma and the path of inner good. Here he addresses a brahmin (as a representative seeker), challenging attachment to wealth, kin, and spouse by reminding him of inevitable death and the fate of ancestors, and urging him to seek the indwelling Self in the ‘cave’ of the heart.