Mahabharata — Adi Parva, Shloka 2
कृपकृपी-जननम्
The Birth of Kṛpa and Kṛpī; Kṛpa’s Attainment of Astras
शुश्रूषुरनहंवादी संयतात्मा जितेन्द्रिय: । स्वर्ग गन्तुं पराक्रान्तः स्वेन वीर्येण भारत
śuśrūṣur anahaṃvādī saṃyatātmā jitendriyaḥ | svargaṃ gantuṃ parākrāntaḥ svena vīryeṇa bhārata ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Bhārata, baginda tekun berkhidmat, jauh daripada keakuan, menguasai diri, dan menundukkan pancaindera. Dengan bersandar pada kekuatan sendiri serta usaha yang berdisiplin, baginda sentiasa berikhtiar untuk mencapai alam syurga.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links spiritual progress to ethical discipline: service-mindedness (śuśrūṣā), absence of ego (anahaṃvāda), control of mind (saṃyama), and mastery of the senses (jitendriyatā). Heaven is presented not as a mere reward but as something pursued through sustained personal effort grounded in virtue.
Vaiśampāyana describes a person’s character and conduct—emphasizing his humility, restraint, and sense-control—and notes that, by his own valor/effort, he actively strove to reach Svarga. The address “Bhārata” situates the statement within the frame-dialogue to the Bharata-descendant listener (Janamejaya).