Shloka 1
Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
अपन क्रा बछ। सं: त>र्योधिकशततमो< ध्याय: ब्रह्माजी और भगीरथका संवाद
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca—dānaṃ bahuvidhākāraṃ śāntiḥ satyam ahiṃsitām | svadāra-tuṣṭiś ca uktā te phalaṃ dānasya caiva yat | tapobalāt paraṃ kiṃ nu balaṃ bhavati te mate | yadi tapasyā api kiṃcid utkṛṣṭaṃ sādhanam asti, tan me vyākhyātuṃ arhasi ||
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “Lolo, inilarawan mo ang maraming anyo ng pagbibigay, kasama ang kapayapaan, katotohanan, at di-karahasan. Itinuro mo rin ang pagkakasiya sa sariling asawa, at ipinaliwanag ang bunga ng kawanggawa. Sa iyong paghatol, anong kapangyarihan ang higit kaysa kapangyarihang isinilang mula sa pag-aayuno at pagkamatiisin (austerity)? At kung may disiplina pang mas mataas kaysa sa austerity, ipahayag mo ito nang malinaw sa harap namin.”
गौतम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a hierarchy of dharmic practices—charity, peace, truth, non-violence, and marital fidelity—and asks whether austerity (tapas) surpasses them, or whether an even higher discipline exists. It sets up an ethical inquiry into what most powerfully transforms character and leads to spiritual merit.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction section, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Bhīṣma as ‘Grandfather’ and, after hearing teachings on dāna and allied virtues, requests a deeper explanation about the greatest source of strength—tapas—and any practice superior to it.