Shloka 106
यज्ञेऽहिंसा-प्राधान्यम्
Primacy of Non-Harm in Sacrificial Ethics
पायसै: सुमनोभिश्न तस्यापि यजन स्मृतम् । ब्राह्मण तो सम्पूर्ण यज्ञोंमें भगवान् विष्णुका ही आदरभाव मानते हैं और खीर तथा फूल आदिसे ही उनकी पूजाका विधान है
pāyasaiḥ sumanobhiś ca tasyāpi yajanaṃ smṛtam | brāhmaṇāḥ tu samparṇe yajñeṣu bhagavān viṣṇum eva ādara-bhāvena manyante, kṣīra-pāyasa-puṣpādibhiḥ eva ca tasya pūjā-vidhānaṃ smṛtam ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Naaalala na kahit para sa Kanya man, ang pagsamba ay isinasagawa sa pamamagitan ng matamis na kaning-gatas (kheer) at mababangong bulaklak. Sa mga ganap at wastong itinakdang mga yajña, ang mga Brahmin ay tanging ang Mapalad na Panginoong Viṣṇu lamang ang iginagalang nang may pagpipitagan; at ang pagsamba sa Kanya ay itinakda sa mga payak na handog gaya ng kheer, mga bulaklak, at iba pang katulad.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even within the context of elaborate, fully performed sacrifices, the tradition emphasizes that Viṣṇu is the primary recipient of reverent honor, and that His worship can be rightly fulfilled through pure, simple offerings like milk-rice and flowers—highlighting devotion and intention over extravagance.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction during the Śānti Parva, he explains ritual and devotional norms: Brahmins conducting complete yajñas still direct their highest reverence to Viṣṇu, and the remembered ordinance (smṛti) prescribes worship with offerings such as pāyasa and flowers.