Shloka 2
Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
पितामहस्य विदितं किमन्यत् तपसो बलात् । तपसो यत्परं तेडद्य तन्नो व्याख्यातुमहसि
Gautama uvāca: pitāmahasya viditaṁ kim anyat tapaso balāt | tapaso yat paraṁ te ’dya tan no vyākhyātum arhasi ||
Gautama dit : «Quelle autre puissance le Grand-Père connaît-il qui surpasse la force née de l’austérité ? Et si, selon toi, il existe aujourd’hui quelque chose d’encore plus élevé que l’austérité, tu dois nous l’expliquer.»
गौतम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames tapas (austerity/discipline) as a major spiritual power and asks whether there is an even higher principle; it sets up a hierarchy of virtues and invites a deeper exposition of what surpasses mere ascetic strength.
In the instructional dialogue of the Anuśāsana Parva, Gautama addresses the Grandsire (Bhīṣma), requesting clarification: after hearing teachings on gifts, peace, truth, non-violence, and restraint, he asks whether anything exceeds the power of austerity and urges Bhīṣma to explain it.