Shloka 2
Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
पितामहस्य विदितं किमन्यत् तपसो बलात् । तपसो यत्परं तेडद्य तन्नो व्याख्यातुमहसि,युधिष्ठिरने पूछा--पितामह! आपने अनेक प्रकारके दान, शांति, सत्य और अहिंसा आदिका वर्णन किया। अपनी ही स्त्रीसे संतुष्ट रहनेकी बात बतायी और दानके फलका भी निरूपण किया। आपकी जानकारीमें तपोबलसे बढ़कर दूसरा कौन बल है? यदि आपकी रायमें तपस्यासे भी कोई उत्कृष्ट साधन हो तो हमारे समक्ष उसकी व्याख्या करें
Gautama uvāca: pitāmahasya viditaṁ kim anyat tapaso balāt | tapaso yat paraṁ te ’dya tan no vyākhyātum arhasi ||
Gautama disse: “Que outro poder é conhecido pelo Avô que ultrapasse a força nascida da austeridade? E se, em tua opinião, existe hoje algo ainda mais elevado do que a austeridade, deves explicá-lo a nós.”
गौतम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames tapas (austerity/discipline) as a major spiritual power and asks whether there is an even higher principle; it sets up a hierarchy of virtues and invites a deeper exposition of what surpasses mere ascetic strength.
In the instructional dialogue of the Anuśāsana Parva, Gautama addresses the Grandsire (Bhīṣma), requesting clarification: after hearing teachings on gifts, peace, truth, non-violence, and restraint, he asks whether anything exceeds the power of austerity and urges Bhīṣma to explain it.