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 ||
ਭੀਸ਼ਮ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਇਹ ਉਪਦੇਸ਼, ਜੋ ਗੁਪਤ ਅਤੇ ਅਤਿ ਰਹੱਸਮਈ ਹਨ, ਤੁਸੀਂ ਪੂਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਸੁਣੋ। ਜਿਸ ਦਾ ਮਨ ਸ਼ੁੱਧ ਹੋਵੇ ਅਤੇ ਜੋ ਸ਼ਰਧਾਵਾਨ ਹੋਵੇ, ਉਸੇ ਨੂੰ ਇਹ ਧਰਮ-ਉਪਦੇਸ਼ ਦੇਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।
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.