Shloka 396

Śrāddha-Kalpa: Pitṛ-Pūjā and Tithi-Phala (श्राद्धकल्पः पितृपूजा च तिथिफलम्)

Devanagari script

केन वा कर्मयोगेन प्रदानेनेह केन वा । “और वे महाज्ञानी महर्षिगण जो कुछ बतावें

Transliteration

kena vā karmayogena pradānena iha kena vā | “aur ve mahājñānī maharṣigaṇa jo kiñcit batāveṃ, usīkā prasannatāpūrvaka pālana karo” | tataḥ mahātejasvī bhṛgunandanaḥ paraśurāmaḥ vasiṣṭha-nārada-agastya-kaśyapān upagamya papraccha—“vipravarāḥ! ahaṃ pavitro bhavitum icchāmi; brūta, katham kena karmānuṣṭhānena athavā kena dānena pavitro bhaveyam?”

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“凭何种业行之修持，或凭此世何种布施，方能得清净？”遵从“诸大智仙所示，当欣然受持而行”的劝诫，光耀的婆利古后裔——帕罗修罗摩——前往毗湿吒、那罗陀、阿伽斯提耶与迦叶处请问：“婆罗门中之最胜者啊！我愿求清净。请告知：当修何等仪轨与职责，或施何等布施，方可得净？”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'kena', 'definition': 'by what? by which means?'}, {'term': 'vā', 'definition': 'or

• alternatively'}, {'term': 'karmayoga', 'definition': 'discipline/path of action

• right performance of duty as a means to inner purification'}, {'term': 'pradāna', 'definition': 'giving

• charitable offering'}, {'term': 'iha', 'definition': 'here (in this world/life)'}, {'term': 'mahājñānī', 'definition': 'greatly wise

• possessing profound knowledge'}, {'term': 'maharṣi-gaṇa', 'definition': 'assembly/group of great seers'}, {'term': 'prasannatā-pūrvaka', 'definition': 'with gladness

• with a pleased mind'}, {'term': 'pālana', 'definition': 'observance

• compliance'}, {'term': 'mahātejasvī', 'definition': 'of great splendor/energy

• radiant'}, {'term': 'bhṛgu-nandana', 'definition': 'descendant of Bhrigu (epithet of Parashurama)'}, {'term': 'vipravara', 'definition': 'best among brahmins'}, {'term': 'pavitra / pavitratā', 'definition': 'pure

• purity (ritual and ethical)'}, {'term': 'karmānuṣṭhāna', 'definition': 'performance/observance of prescribed acts (rites, duties)'}, {'term': 'dāna', 'definition': 'gift

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Parashurama
• Bhrigu
• Vasishtha
• Narada
• Agastya
• Kashyapa
• Maharshis (great seers)
• Vipras (brahmins)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Purification is sought through two classic dharmic means: disciplined right action (karmayoga/karmānuṣṭhāna) and selfless giving (dāna). Equally emphasized is the ethical attitude of humility—accepting the guidance of realized sages and practicing it willingly and joyfully.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s discourse, the story turns to Parashurama, who—desiring purification—approaches renowned seers (Vasishtha, Narada, Agastya, Kashyapa) and asks what specific duties or charitable acts can cleanse and elevate him.