Shloka 2

Viṣṇor Māhātmya and Indriya-saṃyama (विष्णोर्माहात्म्यं तथा इन्द्रियसंयमः)

Devanagari script

भीष्म उवाच अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि नारदेनानुकीर्तितम्‌ । उज्छवृत्ते: पुरावृत्तं यज्ञार्थे ब्राह्मणस्य च

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | atra te vartayiṣyāmi nāradenānukīrtitam | ucchavṛtteḥ purāvṛttaṃ yajñārthe brāhmaṇasya ca ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“在此我将为你讲述一则古事，正如那罗陀曾向我叙说的那样——关于一位以名为‘拾余而食’（ucchavṛtti）的清苦方式度日的婆罗门，以及一场祭祀（yajña）与其所关涉的道德义理。我现在便将那段旧闻告知于你。”

Word by Word

• {'atra': 'here, in this context', 'te': 'to you', 'vartayiṣyāmi': 'I shall relate, I shall narrate', 'nāradeṇa': 'by Narada (instrumental)', 'anukīrtitam': 'recounted, narrated, celebrated as told', 'ucchavṛtteḥ': 'of one living by ucchavṛtti

• subsisting on gleanings/leftovers (a very austere livelihood)', 'purāvṛttam': 'an ancient occurrence

• old episode/tradition', 'yajñārthe': 'for the purpose of a sacrifice

• in connection with yajña', 'brāhmaṇasya': 'of a Brahmin', 'ca': 'and'}

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Nārada
• a Brahmin (brāhmaṇa)
• Yudhiṣṭhira (implied by address in the prose gloss)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames an ethical exemplum: Bhishma introduces an ancient story (told by Narada) about a Brahmin who lives by extreme simplicity (ucchavṛtti) and faces a situation connected with yajña, implying that dharma in ritual contexts must be examined through conduct, restraint, and right means of livelihood.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma begins a new illustrative tale for Yudhiṣṭhira: he announces that he will narrate an old account, transmitted by Narada, about a Brahmin who survives on gleaned remnants and about events arising in relation to a sacrifice.