Shloka 2

Devanagari script

भीष्म उवाच अवेदोत्तव्रताश्चैव भुज्जाना: कामकारणे । वेदोक्तेषु तु भुज्जाना व्रतलुप्ता युधिष्ठिर

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca avedottavratāś caiva bhuñjānāḥ kāmakāraṇe | vedokteṣu tu bhuñjānā vrataluptā yudhiṣṭhira ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “Some eat driven by mere desire, following vows and restraints not grounded in the Veda. But even those who eat only what is prescribed by the Veda become ‘vow-broken,’ O Yudhiṣṭhira, when they abandon the discipline and intent of the vow.”

Word by Word

भीष्मःBhishma

उवाचsaid

अवेदोक्तव्रताःthose whose vows are not enjoined by the Veda

चand

एवindeed

भुञ्जानाःeating/partaking

कामकारणेfor the sake of desire (at will)

वेदोक्तेषुin (things) enjoined by the Veda

तुbut

भुञ्जानाःeating/partaking

व्रतलुप्ताःthose whose vows are broken/lost

युधिष्ठिरO Yudhishthira

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Yudhishthira

Veda

Vrata (vow/observance)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma distinguishes between eating motivated by craving and eating governed by disciplined observance. Even when one follows Vedic prescriptions externally, the vow is considered ‘lost’ if the inner restraint and purpose of the vow are abandoned.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhīṣma’s instruction to Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and proper conduct, he comments on food and observances (vrata), warning that desire-driven indulgence and laxity in discipline undermine the ethical value of ritual practice.