Shloka 4
Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
भीष्म उवाच शृणुष्व राजन यद् वृत्तं ब्रह्मदत्तनिवेशने । पूजन्या सह संवादं ब्रह्मुदत्तस्य भूपते:
bhīṣma uvāca śṛṇuṣva rājan yad vṛttaṃ brahmadattaniveśane | pūjanyā saha saṃvādaṃ brahmadattasya bhūpate ||
ভীষ্ম বললেন—হে রাজন, ব্রহ্মদত্তের নিবাসে যা ঘটেছিল তা শোনো। হে ভূপতে, আমি ব্রহ্মদত্তের সঙ্গে পূজনীয়া নামে এক পূজ্য নারীর যে সংলাপ হয়েছিল তা বর্ণনা করছি।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames dharma-instruction through attentive listening and respectful dialogue: a king is urged to learn from an exemplary conversation, implying that ethical governance is strengthened by honoring worthy counsel and reflecting on instructive narratives.
Bhishma begins introducing an illustrative episode: he asks the king to hear what occurred at Brahmadatta’s residence and announces that he will recount Brahmadatta’s dialogue with a revered woman, setting up a didactic story within the Shanti Parva discourse.