Shloka 2
Go-dāna-phala-nirdeśa
Merit and Destinations from the Gift of Cows
व्रतानां कि फल प्रोक्त कीदृशं वा महाद्युते । नियमानां फलं कि च स्वधीतस्य च कि फलम्,महाद्युते! व्रतोंका क्या और कैसा फल बताया गया है? नियमोंके पालन और स्वाध्यायका भी क्या फल है?
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |
Vratānāṃ kiṃ phalaṃ proktaṃ kīdṛśaṃ vā mahādyute |
Niyamānāṃ phalaṃ kiṃ ca svādhītasya ca kiṃ phalam, mahādyute ||
Yudhiṣṭhira thưa: “Ôi bậc rạng ngời! Quả báo được tuyên dạy cho việc giữ các lời nguyện (vrata) là gì, và bản chất của nó ra sao? Quả báo của việc giữ kỷ luật (niyama) là gì, và quả báo của tự học, tự tụng (svādhyāya) là gì, hỡi bậc chói sáng?”
युधिछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharma-inquiry: it asks how vows (vrata), disciplined conduct (niyama), and scriptural self-study (svādhyāya) yield ethical and spiritual results, emphasizing that practice is evaluated by its ‘fruit’—its transformative effect and moral outcome.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-focused setting, Yudhiṣṭhira respectfully questions an illustrious teacher-figure about the promised results of religious vows, disciplined observances, and self-study, seeking clarity on their value and proper understanding.