Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 74
जपतां जुद्धतां चैव नित्यं च प्रयतात्मनाम् | ऋषीणां परम जप्यं गुहमेतन्नराधिप,नरेश्वर! सदा शुद्धचित्त होकर जप करे, होम करनेवाले ऋषियोंके लिये यह परम गोपनीय मन्त्र है
japatāṁ yuddhatāṁ caiva nityaṁ ca prayatātmanām | ṛṣīṇāṁ parama-japyaṁ guhyam etan narādhipa ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Pour ceux qui s’adonnent sans cesse à la récitation, pour ceux qui combattent, et pour ceux qui demeurent toujours maîtres d’eux-mêmes, voici la formule suprême à réciter. Ô roi, c’est un enseignement secret—surtout destiné aux ṛṣi qui pratiquent le japa et accomplissent les offrandes sacrificielles—à conserver avec un esprit continuellement pur.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma emphasizes that a certain sacred formula (mantra/teaching) is supremely worthy of constant recitation and is to be guarded as confidential; its efficacy is linked with steady self-discipline and purity of mind, and it is applicable both to ascetics (ṛṣis) and to those engaged in worldly duty, even warfare.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues instructing the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) on dharma. Here he introduces or praises a highly secret, supremely recitable teaching, presenting it as authoritative for sages who perform japa and homa, and as a sustaining discipline for people fulfilling demanding duties such as battle.