Shloka 396

Śrāddha-Kalpa: Pitṛ-Pūjā and Tithi-Phala (श्राद्धकल्पः पितृपूजा च तिथिफलम्)

Devanagari script

केन वा कर्मयोगेन प्रदानेनेह केन वा । “और वे महाज्ञानी महर्षिगण जो कुछ बतावें

Transliteration

kena vā karmayogena pradānena iha kena vā | “aur ve mahājñānī maharṣigaṇa jo kiñcit batāveṃ, usīkā prasannatāpūrvaka pālana karo” | tataḥ mahātejasvī bhṛgunandanaḥ paraśurāmaḥ vasiṣṭha-nārada-agastya-kaśyapān upagamya papraccha—“vipravarāḥ! ahaṃ pavitro bhavitum icchāmi; brūta, katham kena karmānuṣṭhānena athavā kena dānena pavitro bhaveyam?”

Translation

Bhishma berkata: “Dengan disiplin tindakan yang mana, atau dengan pemberian apa di dunia ini, seseorang menjadi suci?” Mendengar nasihat bahwa apa pun yang ditetapkan para maharṣi yang mahatahu hendaknya diterima dan dijalankan dengan hati gembira, Parasurama, keturunan Bhrigu yang bercahaya, mendatangi Vasiṣṭha, Nārada, Agastya, dan Kaśyapa, lalu bertanya: “Wahai para brahmana utama, aku ingin menjadi murni; dengan laku apa, atau dengan sedekah apa, aku dapat memperoleh penyucian?”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'kena', 'definition': 'by what? by which means?'}, {'term': 'vā', 'definition': 'or

• alternatively'}, {'term': 'karmayoga', 'definition': 'discipline/path of action

• right performance of duty as a means to inner purification'}, {'term': 'pradāna', 'definition': 'giving

• charitable offering'}, {'term': 'iha', 'definition': 'here (in this world/life)'}, {'term': 'mahājñānī', 'definition': 'greatly wise

• possessing profound knowledge'}, {'term': 'maharṣi-gaṇa', 'definition': 'assembly/group of great seers'}, {'term': 'prasannatā-pūrvaka', 'definition': 'with gladness

• with a pleased mind'}, {'term': 'pālana', 'definition': 'observance

• compliance'}, {'term': 'mahātejasvī', 'definition': 'of great splendor/energy

• radiant'}, {'term': 'bhṛgu-nandana', 'definition': 'descendant of Bhrigu (epithet of Parashurama)'}, {'term': 'vipravara', 'definition': 'best among brahmins'}, {'term': 'pavitra / pavitratā', 'definition': 'pure

• purity (ritual and ethical)'}, {'term': 'karmānuṣṭhāna', 'definition': 'performance/observance of prescribed acts (rites, duties)'}, {'term': 'dāna', 'definition': 'gift

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Parashurama
• Bhrigu
• Vasishtha
• Narada
• Agastya
• Kashyapa
• Maharshis (great seers)
• Vipras (brahmins)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Purification is sought through two classic dharmic means: disciplined right action (karmayoga/karmānuṣṭhāna) and selfless giving (dāna). Equally emphasized is the ethical attitude of humility—accepting the guidance of realized sages and practicing it willingly and joyfully.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s discourse, the story turns to Parashurama, who—desiring purification—approaches renowned seers (Vasishtha, Narada, Agastya, Kashyapa) and asks what specific duties or charitable acts can cleanse and elevate him.