Shloka 2
प्रस्थाने वा प्रवेशे वा प्रवृत्ते वापि कर्मणि । दैवे वा श्राद्धकाले वा कि जप्यं कर्मसाधनम्
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: prasthāne vā praveśe vā pravṛtte vāpi karmaṇi | daive vā śrāddhakāle vā kiṁ japyaṁ karmasādhanam ||
由提湿提罗说道：“出行之时、入宅之时、或开始任何事业之时；同样在祭祀诸神之礼中，或为祖先行施食祭（śrāddha）之时——应当持诵何物为念诵（japa），使所行之事得以圆满成就？”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharma-question: in varied life-situations—travel, entering a home, starting work, worship of the gods, and śrāddha—one should rely on an appropriate sacred recitation (japa) as a disciplined means to align action with auspiciousness and right performance.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-focused dialogue, Yudhiṣṭhira asks an elder authority what mantra or recitation should be used across common rites and transitions so that the intended religious or practical act reaches completion without obstacle.