Shloka 46
Umā–Maheśvara-saṃvāda: Varṇa-bhraṃśa, Ācāra (Vṛtta), and Karmic Ascent/Decline
ब्रह्मोवाच अहो प्रश्नो महाभागा गूढार्थ: परम: शुभ: । सूक्ष्म: श्रेयांश्व॒ मर्दानां भवद्धिः समुदाह्ृत:
brahmovāca aho praśno mahābhāgā gūḍhārthaḥ paramaḥ śubhaḥ | sūkṣmaḥ śreyāṁś ca martyānāṁ bhavadbhiḥ samudāhṛtaḥ ||
ব্ৰহ্মাই ক’লে—“আহা! মহাভাগসকল, এই প্ৰশ্ন গূঢ়াৰ্থযুক্ত, পৰম মঙ্গলময় আৰু অতি সূক্ষ্ম। ই মর্ত্যলোকৰ পৰম শ্ৰেয়ৰ কাৰণ; আৰু তোমালোকে ইয়াক যথাযথভাৱে উত্থাপন কৰিছা।”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises the act of asking a question that is deep, subtle, and ethically beneficial. It frames sincere inquiry into dharma as itself auspicious and as a means to human welfare (śreyas).
Within Bhīṣma’s discourse, a divine voice (Brahmā) responds approvingly to the interlocutors’ inquiry, emphasizing that their question is profound and well-formulated, setting the stage for an authoritative explanation of dharma.