Shloka 2
Ajagara-vrata (The ‘Python’ Discipline): Prahrāda Questions a Wandering Sage
पृष्टश्न गोत्रचरणं स्वाध्यायं ब्रह्मचारिकम् । न तत्र व्याजहारान्यद् गोत्रमात्रादृते द्विज:,विरूपाक्षने गौतमसे उसके गोत्र, शाखा और ब्रह्मचर्य-पालनपूर्वक किये गये स्वाध्यायके विषयमें प्रश्न किया; परंतु उसने गोत्र (जाति)-के सिवा और कुछ नहीं बताया
pṛṣṭaś ca gotracaraṇaṃ svādhyāyaṃ brahmacārikam | na tatra vyājahārānyad gotramātrād ṛte dvijaḥ ||
Bhishma disse: Quando foi interrogado sobre sua linhagem (gotra), seu ramo védico e disciplina, e sobre o svādhyāya (autoestudo) que praticara observando o brahmacarya, o duas-vezes-nascido nada declarou ali além de sua linhagem apenas. (Assim, reteve outros pormenores de seu aprendizado e conduta.)
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights restraint in self-presentation: even when asked about learning and discipline, the dvija reveals only his lineage. In the ethical frame of Śānti Parva, this can point to humility, guarded speech, or the idea that mere claims of learning are secondary to conduct and context.
A person is questioned about his gotra (lineage), Vedic school (caraṇa/śākhā), and his svādhyāya performed under brahmacarya. He responds minimally, stating only his gotra and withholding further details.