Shloka 4
Viṣṇu-sahasranāma—Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Recitation (विष्णोर्नामसहस्रम्)
सगुह्यान् सरहस्यांश्न॒ तान् शृणुध्वमशेषत: । श्रद्दधाने प्रयोक्तव्या यस्य शुद्धं तथा मन:
saguhyān sarahasyāṁś ca tān śṛṇudhvaṁ aśeṣataḥ | śraddadhāne prayoktavyā yasya śuddhaṁ tathā manaḥ ||
Bhishma bersabda: “Dengarlah dengan sempurna ajaran ini, yang merangkumi hal yang sulit didedahkan dan rahsia yang amat mendalam. Ia hendaklah disampaikan hanya kepada orang yang beriman, yang fikirannya juga suci.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even profound or secret dharma-teachings should be given only to a listener who has śraddhā (faithful receptivity) and a śuddha manaḥ (purified mind), emphasizing ethical responsibility in transmitting knowledge.
Bhishma introduces a set of teachings described as containing confidential and esoteric elements, urging the audience to listen fully, while setting a qualification for who is fit to receive such instruction.