Shloka 5
Anuśāsana-parva Adhyāya 112: Dharma as the sole companion; karmic witnesses; rebirth sequences
Bṛhaspati–Yudhiṣṭhira Saṃvāda
निर्ममा निरहंकारा निर्दधन्धा निष्परिग्रहा: | शुचयस्तीर्थभूतास्ते ये भैक्ष्यमुपभुज्जते,जो ममता, अहंकार, राग-द्वेषादि द्वद्ध और परिग्रहसे रहित एवं भिक्षासे जीवन निर्वाह करते हैं, वे विशुद्ध अन्तःकरणवाले साधु पुरुष तीर्थस्वरूप हैं
bhīṣma uvāca | nirmamā nirahaṅkārā nirdvandvā niṣparigrahāḥ | śucayas tīrthabhūtās te ye bhaikṣyam upabhuñjate ||
جو مَمتا اور اَہنکار سے پاک، ضدّین کے جوڑوں سے ماورا، اور جمع و ذخیرہ کرنے اور مال کی وابستگی سے بے نیاز ہیں—جو بھیک پر گزر بسر کرتے ہیں—وہ پاکیزہ دل سادھو خود ہی تیرتھ (مقدس مقام) کے مانند ہیں۔
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A truly holy person is defined not by external rites but by inner freedom: absence of possessiveness and ego, equanimity beyond dualities, and non-accumulation. Such a person, living simply on alms, becomes ‘tīrtha-like’—a source of purification and moral inspiration for others.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (Anushasana Parva), he describes the marks of purified ascetics and virtuous renouncers. He elevates their disciplined, non-possessive life as itself a sacred presence, comparable to a pilgrimage-site.