Shloka 2
प्रस्थाने वा प्रवेशे वा प्रवृत्ते वापि कर्मणि । दैवे वा श्राद्धकाले वा कि जप्यं कर्मसाधनम्,यात्रा, गृहप्रवेश अथवा किसी कर्मका आरम्भ करते समय, देवयज्ञमें या श्राद्धुके समय किस मन्त्रका जप करनेसे कर्मकी पूर्ति हो जाती है?
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: prasthāne vā praveśe vā pravṛtte vāpi karmaṇi | daive vā śrāddhakāle vā kiṁ japyaṁ karmasādhanam ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Ketika berangkat bermusafir, ketika memasuki rumah, atau ketika memulakan apa-apa usaha; demikian juga dalam upacara untuk para dewa atau pada waktu śrāddha bagi leluhur—apakah yang patut diulang sebagai japa agar perbuatan yang dihajatkan berjaya disempurnakan?”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharma-question: in varied life-situations—travel, entering a home, starting work, worship of the gods, and śrāddha—one should rely on an appropriate sacred recitation (japa) as a disciplined means to align action with auspiciousness and right performance.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-focused dialogue, Yudhiṣṭhira asks an elder authority what mantra or recitation should be used across common rites and transitions so that the intended religious or practical act reaches completion without obstacle.