Shloka 2
अध्याय २९७ — श्रेयः, धृति, दान-नियमाः
Welfare, Steadfastness, and Norms of Giving
पिता परं दैवतं मानवानां मातुर्विशिष्टं पितरं वदन्ति । ज्ञानस्य लाभं॑ परम॑ वदन्ति जितेन्द्रियार्था: परमाप्नुवन्ति
pitā paraṁ daivataṁ mānavānāṁ mātur viśiṣṭaṁ pitaraṁ vadanti | jñānasya lābhaṁ paramaṁ vadanti jitendriyārthāḥ param āpnuvanti ||
पराशर बोले—मनुष्यों के लिए पिता परम देवता है। कुछ लोग पिता को माता से भी श्रेष्ठ कहते हैं। बुद्धिमान पुरुष ज्ञान-लाभ को ही परम लाभ बताते हैं; और जिन्होंने इन्द्रियों तथा उनके विषयों पर विजय पा ली है, वे परम पद को प्राप्त होते हैं।
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates reverence for one’s father as a major dharmic duty, while also asserting that the highest human attainment is the gain of true knowledge; mastery over the senses and their objects is presented as the practical discipline that leads to the supreme state.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction-oriented setting, the sage Parāśara is delivering ethical and spiritual counsel, linking social dharma (honoring parents, especially the father) with inner discipline (sense-control) and the ultimate goal (attaining the highest state through knowledge).