Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 19
Nārāyaṇa-tejas: Kṛṣṇa’s Vrata, the Fire-Manifestation, and the Sages’ Inquiry (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय १२६)
(दानेन तपसा चैव विष्णोरभ्यर्चनेन च । ब्राह्मण: स महाभाग तरेत् संसारसागरात् ।।
bhīṣma uvāca |
dānena tapasā caiva viṣṇor abhyarcaneṇa ca |
brāhmaṇaḥ sa mahābhāga taretsaṃsārasāgarāt ||
svakarmaśuddhasattvānāṃ tapobhir nirmalātmanām |
vidyayā gatamohānāṃ tāraṇāya hariḥ smṛtaḥ ||
tadarcana-paro nityaṃ tadbhaktas taṃ namaskuru |
tadbhaktā na vinaśyanti harīṣṭākṣara-parāyaṇāḥ ||
praṇavopāsanaparāḥ paramārthaparās tv iha |
etaiḥ pāvaya cātmānaṃ sarvapāpam apohya ca ||
svasti prāpruhi maitreya gṛhān sādhū vrajāmy aham |
etan manasi kartavyaṃ śreya evaṃ bhaviṣyati ||
Bhishma said: “O greatly fortunate one, a brahmin crosses the ocean of worldly existence through giving, through austerity, and through worship of Vishnu. For those whose inner being has been purified by faithfully performing their own prescribed duties, whose minds have been made clear by austerities, and whose delusion has been dispelled by true knowledge—for their deliverance Hari is remembered; indeed, by remembering him they are surely carried across. Therefore be ever intent on his worship, remain his devotee, and continually bow to him. Devotees who are devoted to the eight-syllabled formula of Hari do not perish. Here, those who are devoted to the worship of the Pranava and intent on the highest good—by associating with such means and disciplines, purify yourself, casting off all sin. Maitreya, may you attain well-being; I now go carefully to my hermitage. Keep this in mind; thus your welfare will come to be.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that liberation is attained through a triad of disciplines—charity, austerity, and devoted worship of Vishnu—supported by purity gained from one’s rightful duties and clarified by knowledge; remembrance and mantra-centered devotion to Hari are presented as unfailing means of deliverance.
Bhishma addresses Maitreya with concluding counsel: he urges steady Vishnu-devotion (including the eight-syllabled mantra and contemplation of Oṃ), advises self-purification by removing sin, and then takes leave, saying he will return to his hermitage and that Maitreya should keep the instruction in mind for his welfare.