Shloka 35
Adhyāya 180: Jīva, Śarīra, and the Fire Analogy (भृगु–भरद्वाज संवादः)
बहुकथितमिदं हि बुद्धिमद्धिः कविभिरपि प्रथयद्धिरात्मकीर्तिम् । इदमिदमिति तत्र तत्र हन््त स्वपरमतैर्गहनं प्रतर्कयद्धि:ः
bahukathitam idaṁ hi buddhimadbhiḥ kavibhir api prathayadbhir ātmakīrtim | idam idam iti tatra tatra hanta svaparamataiḥ gahanaṁ pratarkayadbhiḥ ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: Ang pagtalimaing ito ay ipinaliwanag sa maraming paraan ng mga pantas at makata—na ang bawat isa’y naghahangad ding palawakin ang sariling katanyagan. Sa masalimuot na pangangatwiran at pagsalungat, hinango sa sariling aral at sa aral ng iba, paulit-ulit nilang iginigiit sa iba’t ibang dako: “Ganito ang nararapat; ganito ang nararapat.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma cautions that dharma and observances often become overlaid with competing interpretations, where scholars—sometimes driven by self-promotion—use intricate argumentation to insist on their preferred ‘right way.’ The verse highlights the need for discernment amid doctrinal debate.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma remarks to his listener that the particular vow/observance being discussed has been variously expounded by learned people. He notes how they argue from different schools of thought, repeatedly asserting their own prescriptions.