Shloka 2
Ajagara-vrata (The ‘Python’ Discipline): Prahrāda Questions a Wandering Sage
पृष्टश्न गोत्रचरणं स्वाध्यायं ब्रह्मचारिकम् । न तत्र व्याजहारान्यद् गोत्रमात्रादृते द्विज:
pṛṣṭaś ca gotracaraṇaṃ svādhyāyaṃ brahmacārikam | na tatra vyājahārānyad gotramātrād ṛte dvijaḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : Interrogé sur son lignage (gotra), sur sa branche védique et sa discipline, ainsi que sur le svādhyāya (l’étude de soi) qu’il avait poursuivi en observant le brahmacarya, le deux-fois-né ne révéla rien d’autre que son seul lignage. (Ainsi, il retint d’autres détails sur son savoir et sa conduite.)
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights restraint in self-presentation: even when asked about learning and discipline, the dvija reveals only his lineage. In the ethical frame of Śānti Parva, this can point to humility, guarded speech, or the idea that mere claims of learning are secondary to conduct and context.
A person is questioned about his gotra (lineage), Vedic school (caraṇa/śākhā), and his svādhyāya performed under brahmacarya. He responds minimally, stating only his gotra and withholding further details.