Shloka 2
सान्त्व-निति: (Sāntva-Nīti) — The One-Word Principle of Conciliation
शक्र उवाच कि स्विदेकपदं ब्रह्मन् पुरुष: सम्यगाचरन् । प्रमाणं सर्वभूतानां यशश्रैवाप्रुयान्महत्
śakra uvāca: kiṁ svid ekapadaṁ brahman puruṣaḥ samyag ācaran | pramāṇaṁ sarvabhūtānāṁ yaśaś caivāpnuyān mahat ||
சக்ரன் (இந்திரன்) கேட்டான்—பிராமணரே! ஒரே சொல்லில் கூறப்படும் அந்த நெறி எது? அதை முறையாகக் கடைப்பிடிக்கும் மனிதன் எல்லா உயிர்களுக்கும் அளவுகோலாகி, மாபெரும் புகழை அடைகிறான்.
शक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical inquiry: there exists a concise, single-term virtue whose proper practice makes a person exemplary (pramāṇa) to all beings and brings lasting renown. It emphasizes that true fame is grounded in right conduct rather than power or status.
Indra (Śakra) addresses a brahmin/sage and asks a pointed question: identify the ‘one-word’ principle that, when lived correctly, makes one beloved and authoritative among creatures and yields great fame. The verse sets up a didactic response about a central moral virtue.