Shloka 9
कपोती-विलापः स्वर्गसंयोगश्च
The Dove’s Lament and Celestial Reunion
मुनिर्वाच धर्मनिश्चयसंयुक्तां कामार्थसहितां कथाम् | शृणुष्वावहितो राजन् गदतो मे महाभुज
munir uvāca dharmaniścayasaṃyuktāṃ kāmārthasahitāṃ kathām | śṛṇuṣvāvahito rājan gadato me mahābhuja ||
মুনি বললেন—হে মহাবাহু রাজা, মনোযোগ দিয়ে শোনো। এই কাহিনি ধর্ম-নির্ণয়ে প্রতিষ্ঠিত, এবং অর্থ ও কাম—এই দুই পুরুষার্থেও পরিপূর্ণ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the forthcoming discourse as a balanced instruction: it clarifies dharma through firm discernment (niścaya) while also acknowledging artha and kāma as legitimate human aims when integrated under dharma.
A sage addresses a king and invites him to listen with full attention, introducing a story/discourse that will guide ethical judgment (dharma) alongside practical and human concerns (artha and kāma).