Mahabharata — Adi Parva, Shloka 2
कृपकृपी-जननम्
The Birth of Kṛpa and Kṛpī; Kṛpa’s Attainment of Astras
शुश्रूषुरनहंवादी संयतात्मा जितेन्द्रिय: । स्वर्ग गन्तुं पराक्रान्तः स्वेन वीर्येण भारत
śuśrūṣur anahaṃvādī saṃyatātmā jitendriyaḥ | svargaṃ gantuṃ parākrāntaḥ svena vīryeṇa bhārata ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Ô Bhārata, il était empressé de servir, exempt d’orgueil, maître de lui-même et victorieux de ses sens. S’appuyant sur sa propre force et sur un effort discipliné, il s’appliquait sans relâche à atteindre le monde céleste.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links spiritual progress to ethical discipline: service-mindedness (śuśrūṣā), absence of ego (anahaṃvāda), control of mind (saṃyama), and mastery of the senses (jitendriyatā). Heaven is presented not as a mere reward but as something pursued through sustained personal effort grounded in virtue.
Vaiśampāyana describes a person’s character and conduct—emphasizing his humility, restraint, and sense-control—and notes that, by his own valor/effort, he actively strove to reach Svarga. The address “Bhārata” situates the statement within the frame-dialogue to the Bharata-descendant listener (Janamejaya).