Shloka 2
प्रस्थाने वा प्रवेशे वा प्रवृत्ते वापि कर्मणि । दैवे वा श्राद्धकाले वा कि जप्यं कर्मसाधनम्
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: prasthāne vā praveśe vā pravṛtte vāpi karmaṇi | daive vā śrāddhakāle vā kiṁ japyaṁ karmasādhanam ||
Yudhiṣṭhira dit : « Lorsqu’on part en voyage, lorsqu’on entre dans une maison ou lorsqu’on commence quelque entreprise ; de même lors des rites pour les dieux ou au temps du śrāddha pour les ancêtres, que doit-on réciter en japa afin que l’acte entrepris s’accomplisse avec succès ? »
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharma-question: in varied life-situations—travel, entering a home, starting work, worship of the gods, and śrāddha—one should rely on an appropriate sacred recitation (japa) as a disciplined means to align action with auspiciousness and right performance.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-focused dialogue, Yudhiṣṭhira asks an elder authority what mantra or recitation should be used across common rites and transitions so that the intended religious or practical act reaches completion without obstacle.