Shloka 2
Tapas as the Root of Attainment (तपः—साधनमूलप्रशंसा)
मोहाद् विकत्थनामात्रैरसारो5ल्ल्पबलो लघु: । वाम्भिरप्रतिरूपाभिरभिद्रुह्य पितामह
mohād vikatthanāmātrair asāro 'lpabalo laghuḥ | vām̐bhir apratirūpābhir abhidruhya pitāmaha, yudhiṣṭhira uvāca—pitāmaha! yo balavān nitya nikaṭavartī upakāra-apakāra-karaṇe samarthaś ca nityodyogaśīlaś ca, tasya śatroḥ saha yadi kaścid alpabalo 'sāraḥ sarvathā laghu-sāmarthyo janaḥ mohavaśāt śekhyāṃ baghārayan ayogyavākyair vairam bādhate, sa balavān śatruś cātikupito bhūtvā taṃ durbalaṃ puruṣam unmūlayituṃ yady abhidravati, tadā sa ākrāntaḥ puruṣaḥ svabala-mātraṃ niśritya tasya ākrāntur saha kathaṃ vyavaharet, yena tasya rakṣā syāt?
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “Lolo, kung ang isang taong mahina—walang bigat at mababa ang katayuan—dahil sa pagkahibang ay nag-uudyok ng pagkapoot sa pamamagitan lamang ng pagyayabang at mga salitang di nararapat laban sa isang makapangyarihang kaaway na laging malapit, may kakayahang magbigay ng kabutihan at magdulot ng kapinsalaan, at laging masikap; at kung ang malakas na kaaway na iyon, sa matinding galit, ay sumalakay upang bunutin ang mahina—paano dapat kumilos ang taong sinasalakay, na umaasa lamang sa kanyang munting lakas, sa harap ng mananalakay upang siya’y mapangalagaan?”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a nīti (practical-ethical) problem: reckless speech and empty boasting can create dangerous enmity, especially against a stronger, nearby, capable adversary. It invites guidance on prudent conduct—how a weaker person should act to preserve safety when a stronger enemy is provoked.
In Śānti Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira asks Bhīṣma a policy-and-ethics question. He describes a scenario where a weak person, deluded, insults/boasts against a powerful enemy; the enemy attacks in anger. Yudhiṣṭhira seeks Bhīṣma’s counsel on the proper way for the attacked weak person to behave so as to survive and be protected.