Shloka 4
Phala of Vrata, Niyama, Svādhyāya, Dama, Satya, Brahmacarya, and Service (व्रत-नियम-स्वाध्याय-दम-सत्य-ब्रह्मचर्य-शुश्रूषा-फलप्रश्नः)
समाप्ते नियमे तस्मिन् महर्षि: पुत्रमब्रवीत् | उपस्पर्शनसक्तस्य स्वाध्यायाभिरतस्य च
bhīṣma uvāca | samāpte niyame tasmin maharṣiḥ putram abravīt | upasparśana-saktasya svādhyāyābhiratasya ca |
Bhīṣma dit : «Lorsque cette observance fut achevée, le grand rishi s’adressa à son fils : “Mon enfant, tandis que je m’appliquais aux ablutions rituelles et que j’étais absorbé dans la récitation védique (svādhyāya), j’ai rassemblé des bûchettes de combustible, de l’herbe kuśa, des fleurs, un vase d’eau et d’abondantes provisions, puis je les ai déposés sur la rive du fleuve. Ensuite, les ayant tous oubliés, je suis venu ici. Va maintenant au bord de l’eau et rapporte ici l’ensemble de ce dépôt.”»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined observance (niyama) and the primacy of sacred duties like purification and Vedic recitation, while also showing that practical responsibilities remain—one must complete what has been arranged for a rite, often through orderly delegation and obedience within the family/āśrama setting.
After completing a religious observance, a sage tells his son that he had placed ritual materials and provisions on the riverbank before bathing and reciting the Veda, but then forgot them and left; he instructs the son to go to the riverbank and bring the items back.