Shloka 5
धर्मलक्षण-प्रश्नः (Marks and Sources of Dharma) | Chapter 251: Inquiry into the Definition of Dharma
ताप: पाक: प्रकाशश्न ज्योतिश्नक्षुश्न॒ पजचमम् । तस्य रूपं गुणं विद्यात् ताम्रगौरासितात्मकम्
tāpaḥ pākaḥ prakāśaś ca jyotiś cakṣuś ca pañcamam | tasya rūpaṃ guṇaṃ vidyāt tāmra-gaurāsitātmakam ||
毗耶娑开示：热、烹煮使之成熟、照明、光辉，以及视觉之能，皆为“提阇斯”（tejas，火之原理）的作用。应当了知其可感之形与其德相，常以铜赤、明白、幽暗等色相而现。其伦理旨趣在于辨因识果：明白微细之元素如何借由功能与可见之相而显现，不可执著于表相，以为即是全部真实。
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Tejas (the fire principle) is known by its functions—heat, transformation/cooking, illumination, radiance, and enabling sight—and by its visible qualities such as coppery, bright, or dark coloration; thus one should infer subtle causes from observable effects.
In the Shanti Parva’s philosophical instruction, Vyasa is enumerating the characteristics of a fundamental element (tejas/agni), describing how it manifests in the world and in the senses, as part of a broader teaching on tattvas and discernment.