Viṣṇu-sahasranāma—Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Recitation (विष्णोर्नामसहस्रम्)
अरुन्धत्युवाच तपोवृद्धिर्मया प्राप्ता भवतां स्मरणेन वै । भवतां च प्रसादेन धर्मान् वक्ष्यामि शाश्वतान्
aruṇdaty uvāca | tapovṛddhir mayā prāptā bhavatāṁ smaraṇena vai | bhavatāṁ ca prasādena dharmān vakṣyāmi śāśvatān |
Arundhatī berkata: “Karena kalian mengingatku, kekuatan tapaku bertambah. Dan berkat kemurahan kalian, kini akan kuuraikan dharma yang kekal, beserta makna-makna batinnya yang terjaga. Dengarkanlah. Ajaran ini hendaknya diberikan hanya kepada orang beriman yang batinnya telah disucikan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Sacred instruction on dharma is not merely information; it should be transmitted to a qualified recipient—one who is faithful and mentally purified—because the efficacy and integrity of dharma depend on the listener’s inner readiness.
Arundhatī addresses the gods, stating that their remembrance has strengthened her tapas. With their favor, she begins to teach the eternal dharmas, indicating that these are to be shared with discretion and only with worthy, pure-minded hearers.