Shloka 5
Brāhmaṇya-प्रश्नः — The Inquiry into Attaining Brāhmaṇya
Mataṅga–Gardabhī Itihāsa
अस्ति मे भगवन वक्षित्तीर्थेभ्यो धर्मसंशय: । तत् सर्व श्रोतुमिच्छामि तन्मे शंस महामुने
asti me bhagavan vakṣitīrthebhyo dharma-saṁśayaḥ | tat sarvaṁ śrotum icchāmi tan me śaṁsa mahāmune ||
গৌতম বললেন—ভগবন্, মহামুনে! তীর্থসম্বন্ধে আমার ধর্মবিষয়ক সংশয় আছে। আমি সেই সবই স্পষ্টভাবে শুনতে চাই; অনুগ্রহ করে আমাকে বলুন।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models dharmic inquiry: when uncertain about religious practice (here, tīrtha-related duties and merits), one should seek clarification from a qualified sage and aim to understand the matter in full rather than relying on assumption or hearsay.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-setting, Bhīṣma addresses a revered sage and requests a complete explanation about doubts he has regarding the dharma connected with pilgrimage places (tīrthas), initiating a didactic discussion on tīrtha-dharma.