Shloka 3
प्रजाविसर्ग-तत्त्वनिर्णयः | Cosmogony of Elemental Emergence
Bharadvāja–Bhṛgu Dialogue
द्विजाते: कस्यचित् पार्थ स्वाध्यायनिरतस्य वै । बभूव पुत्रो मेधावी मेधावी नाम नामतः,कुन्तीकुमार! प्राचीन कालमें एक ब्राह्मण थे, जो सदा वेद-शास्त्रोंके स्वाध्यायमें तत्पर रहते थे। उनके एक पुत्र हुआ, जो गुणसे तो मेधावी था ही नामसे भी मेधावी था
dvijāteḥ kasyacit pārtha svādhyāya-niratasya vai | babhūva putro medhāvī medhāvī nāma nāmataḥ ||
Bhishma said: O Partha, in ancient times there lived a certain twice-born Brahmin, ever devoted to the disciplined study and recitation of the Vedas and sacred teachings. To him was born a son of keen intelligence—wise in qualities, and even by name called ‘Medhāvī’ (the Intelligent).
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sets up an ethical exemplar: steadfast commitment to svādhyāya (disciplined sacred study) is presented as a foundational Brahmin virtue, and ‘medhā’ (intelligence) is framed as a valued quality—both as inner merit and as an identity to be lived up to.
Bhishma begins a didactic tale by introducing a devout Brahmin absorbed in Vedic study and his son named Medhāvī, whose intelligence becomes the focal point for the subsequent instruction.