Ārjava, Satya, and the Virocana–Sudhanvan Exemplum
Udyoga-parva 35
चरन्तं हंसरूपेण महर्षि संशितव्रतम् । साध्या देवा महाप्राज्ञं पर्यपृच्छन्त वै पुरा
carantaṃ haṃsarūpeṇa maharṣiṃ saṃśitavratam | sādhya devā mahāprājñaṃ paryapṛcchanta vai purā ||
প্রাচীনকালে দৃঢ়ব্রত, মহাপ্রাজ্ঞ মহর্ষি দত্তাত্রেয় পরমহংস-রূপে বিচরণ করছিলেন। তখন সাধ্যদেবগণ সেই পরমজ্ঞানীকে নিকটে এসে ধর্ম ও পরমতত্ত্ব বিষয়ে প্রশ্ন করলেন।
विदुर उवाच
The verse frames dharma as something approached through humble inquiry: even divine beings seek instruction from a sage who embodies disciplined vows and higher discernment, suggesting that ethical clarity arises from wisdom, restraint, and asking the right questions.
Vidura introduces an ancient episode: a great sage, moving about in the symbolic haṃsa/paramahaṃsa form, is approached by the Sādhya gods, who question him—setting up a didactic dialogue meant to illuminate right conduct and higher truth.