Shloka 2
Kapālamocana-tīrtha (Auśanasa) and Balarāma’s Sarasvatī Pilgrimage
कस्य वंशे समुत्पन्न: कि चाधीतं द्विजोत्तम । एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं विधिवद् द्विजसत्तम
kasya vaṁśe samutpannaḥ kiṁ cādhītaṁ dvijottama | etad icchāmy ahaṁ śrotuṁ vidhivad dvijasattama ||
Wahai brahmana utama, dari wangsa manakah ia terlahir, dan pengetahuan suci apa yang ia pelajari? Wahai yang terunggul di antara kaum dwija, semuanya itu ingin kudengar menurut urutan yang semestinya.
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the traditional dharmic method of understanding a person through two pillars: lineage (vaṁśa) and disciplined study (adhyayana). It also models respectful inquiry—seeking knowledge “vidhivat,” i.e., in a proper, orderly manner from a qualified teacher.
King Janamejaya addresses a Brahmin narrator and asks for specific background information about a person under discussion—requesting to know the individual’s family lineage and what scriptures or sacred disciplines he studied, and asking to hear it systematically.