Shloka 2

Devanagari script

दुर्लभा वेदविद्वांसो वेदोक्तेषु व्यवस्थिता: । प्रयोजन महत्त्वात्तु मार्गमिच्छन्ति संस्तुतम्‌,वेदोंके विद्वान्‌ और वेदोक्त कर्मोमें निष्ठा रखनेवाले पुरुष प्राय: दुर्लभ हैं। जो अत्यन्त बुद्धिमान हैं, वे पुरुष वेदोक्त दोनों मार्गोमेंसे जो अधिक महत्त्वपूर्ण होनेके कारण सबके द्वारा प्रशंसित है, उस मोक्षमार्गको ही चाहते हैं

Transliteration

durlabhā vedavidvāṁso vedokteṣu vyavasthitāḥ | prayojana-mahattvāt tu mārgam icchanti saṁstutam ||

Translation

Bhishma said: Those who truly know the Veda and remain firmly established in the Veda-enjoined disciplines are rare. But the supremely discerning, seeing the greater purpose, seek the path that is most praised by all—the path leading to liberation.

Word by Word

दुर्लभाःrare, hard to find

वेदविद्वांसःknowers of the Veda

वेदोक्तेषुin (things) enjoined by the Veda

व्यवस्थिताःsteadfast, established

प्रयोजनमहत्त्वात्because of (its) great purpose/importance

तुbut, however

मार्गम्path

इच्छन्तिthey desire

संस्तुतम्praised, lauded

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma emphasizes that genuine Vedic learning joined with steady practice is uncommon; and that the truly wise prioritize the higher end (prayojana)—the widely praised path to liberation—over lesser aims.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and life-goals, Bhishma continues advising the listener that among Vedic paths, the discerning choose the more significant, celebrated route culminating in moksha.