Shloka 396

Śrāddha-Kalpa: Pitṛ-Pūjā and Tithi-Phala (श्राद्धकल्पः पितृपूजा च तिथिफलम्)

Devanagari script

केन वा कर्मयोगेन प्रदानेनेह केन वा । “और वे महाज्ञानी महर्षिगण जो कुछ बतावें, उसीका प्रसन्नतापूर्वक पालन करो।” तब महातेजस्वी भृगुनन्दन परशुरामजीने वसिष्ठ, नारद, अगस्त्य और कश्यपजीके पास जाकर पूछा--“विप्रवरो! मैं पवित्र होना चाहता हूँ। बताइये, कैसे किस कर्मके अनुष्ठानसे अथवा किस दानसे पवित्र हो सकता हूँ?

Transliteration

kena vā karmayogena pradānena iha kena vā | “aur ve mahājñānī maharṣigaṇa jo kiñcit batāveṃ, usīkā prasannatāpūrvaka pālana karo” | tataḥ mahātejasvī bhṛgunandanaḥ paraśurāmaḥ vasiṣṭha-nārada-agastya-kaśyapān upagamya papraccha—“vipravarāḥ! ahaṃ pavitro bhavitum icchāmi; brūta, katham kena karmānuṣṭhānena athavā kena dānena pavitro bhaveyam?”

Translation

Bhishma sprach: „Durch welche Disziplin des Handelns, oder durch welche Gabe, die man hier darbringt, wird man gereinigt?“ Dem Rat folgend, alles, was die großen, weisen Seher verordnen, freudig anzunehmen und zu befolgen, trat der strahlende Nachkomme Bhrigus—Parashurama—zu Vasistha, Narada, Agastya und Kashyapa und fragte: „Ihr Vorzüglichsten unter den Brahmanen! Ich wünsche rein zu werden. Sagt mir: Durch welche Art von Ritus oder Pflicht, oder durch welche Art von Almosen, kann ich Reinigung erlangen?“

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'kena', 'definition': 'by what? by which means?'}, {'term': 'vā', 'definition': 'or

• alternatively'}, {'term': 'karmayoga', 'definition': 'discipline/path of action

• right performance of duty as a means to inner purification'}, {'term': 'pradāna', 'definition': 'giving

• charitable offering'}, {'term': 'iha', 'definition': 'here (in this world/life)'}, {'term': 'mahājñānī', 'definition': 'greatly wise

• possessing profound knowledge'}, {'term': 'maharṣi-gaṇa', 'definition': 'assembly/group of great seers'}, {'term': 'prasannatā-pūrvaka', 'definition': 'with gladness

• with a pleased mind'}, {'term': 'pālana', 'definition': 'observance

• compliance'}, {'term': 'mahātejasvī', 'definition': 'of great splendor/energy

• radiant'}, {'term': 'bhṛgu-nandana', 'definition': 'descendant of Bhrigu (epithet of Parashurama)'}, {'term': 'vipravara', 'definition': 'best among brahmins'}, {'term': 'pavitra / pavitratā', 'definition': 'pure

• purity (ritual and ethical)'}, {'term': 'karmānuṣṭhāna', 'definition': 'performance/observance of prescribed acts (rites, duties)'}, {'term': 'dāna', 'definition': 'gift

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Parashurama
• Bhrigu
• Vasishtha
• Narada
• Agastya
• Kashyapa
• Maharshis (great seers)
• Vipras (brahmins)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Purification is sought through two classic dharmic means: disciplined right action (karmayoga/karmānuṣṭhāna) and selfless giving (dāna). Equally emphasized is the ethical attitude of humility—accepting the guidance of realized sages and practicing it willingly and joyfully.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s discourse, the story turns to Parashurama, who—desiring purification—approaches renowned seers (Vasishtha, Narada, Agastya, Kashyapa) and asks what specific duties or charitable acts can cleanse and elevate him.