Shloka 2
Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
पितामहस्य विदितं किमन्यत् तपसो बलात् । तपसो यत्परं तेडद्य तन्नो व्याख्यातुमहसि
Gautama uvāca: pitāmahasya viditaṁ kim anyat tapaso balāt | tapaso yat paraṁ te ’dya tan no vyākhyātum arhasi ||
Sinabi ni Gautama: “Anong iba pang kapangyarihan ang nalalaman ng Matandang Lolo na hihigit sa lakas na isinilang mula sa austerity? At kung sa iyong pananaw ay may umiiral ngayon na mas mataas pa kaysa austerity, nararapat mo itong ipaliwanag sa amin.”
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.