Shloka 9
यज्ञेऽहिंसा-प्राधान्यम्
Primacy of Non-Harm in Sacrificial Ethics
सुरा मत्स्या मधु मांसमासवं कूसरौदनम् | धूर्ते: प्रवर्तितं होतन्नैतद् वेदेषु कल्पितम्
sūrā matsyā madhu māṁsam āsavaṁ kūsaraundanam | dhūrtaiḥ pravartitaṁ hy etan naitad vedeṣu kalpitam ||
毗湿摩说：“酒（surā）、鱼、蜜、肉、发酵之饮（āsava），以及以芝麻配米粥为供——这些都是狡黠之徒把它们引入祭祀之中。吠陀并未规定此等用法。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma asserts that certain offerings—especially intoxicants and animal/fish items—are later corruptions introduced by deceitful people and are not genuinely sanctioned by Vedic revelation; therefore, one should align ritual practice with authentic scriptural dharma rather than popular but dubious custom.
In Shanti Parva’s dharma instruction, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira on right conduct and proper religious practice. Here he criticizes the inclusion of liquor, meat, fish, and related food-offerings in yajña, claiming these became customary through manipulation and are not truly Vedic prescriptions.