Śrāddha-Kalpa: Pitṛ-Pūjā and Tithi-Phala (श्राद्धकल्पः पितृपूजा च तिथिफलम्)
तमेवार्थ महातेजा: पप्रच्छ भृूगुनन्दन: । जाता मतिर्मे विप्रेन्द्रा: कथथं पूयेयमित्युत
tam evārthaṁ mahātejāḥ papraccha bhṛgunandanaḥ | jātā matir me viprendrāḥ kathaṁ pūyeyam ity uta ||
भीष्म बोले—तब महातेजस्वी भृगुनन्दन ने उसी विषय में पूछा—“हे विप्रेन्द्रों! मेरे मन में यह निश्चय उत्पन्न हुआ है—मैं कैसे पवित्र होऊँ?”
भीष्म उवाच
The verse highlights dharmic learning through humble inquiry: when moral clarity (mati) arises, one should seek guidance from the wise on the means of inner purification (pūyeyam), rather than relying on mere self-assertion.
Bhīṣma narrates that an illustrious Bhārgava (descendant of Bhṛgu) asks a foremost brāhmaṇa about the same topic under discussion, stating that he has formed the intention to purify himself and requesting the method to do so.