Shloka 1
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
अपन क्ाता बछ। 5 चत्वारिशदाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: भारद्वाज कणिकका सौराष्ट्रदेशके राजाको कूटनीतिका उपदेश युधिछ्िर उवाच युगक्षयात् परिक्षीणो धर्मे लोके च भारत । दस्युभि: पीड्यमाने च कथं स्थेयं पितामह
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | yugakṣayāt parikṣīṇo dharme loke ca bhārata | dasyubhiḥ pīḍyamāne ca kathaṃ stheyaṃ pitāmaha ||
قال يودهيشثيرا: «يا بهاراتا، إذ تقترب العصور من نهايتها، قد نضب الدَّرما في العالم. وإذا زاد الأمرَ أن المجتمع يُعذَّب باللصوص وقطاع الطرق والناهِبين، فكيف ينبغي للمرء أن يثبت—وكيف يعيش—يا جدّاه الجليل؟»
युधिछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a moral-political problem: when dharma weakens due to the decline of the age and society is troubled by lawless violence, one must seek guidance on how to remain steady in righteous conduct and governance.
In the Śānti Parva dialogue, Yudhiṣṭhira questions Bhīṣma about proper conduct and stability in a time of social decay—specifically when bandits and disorder intensify the erosion of dharma.