Shloka 1
उपवासविधि-प्रश्नः
Inquiry into the Discipline of Fasting
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठके ९३ “लोक मिलाकर कुल १६५३ “लोक हैं) + अपने जन्मनक्षत्रसे वर्तमान नक्षत्रतक गिने
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | yathā jyeṣṭhaḥ kaniṣṭheṣu varteta bharatarṣabha | kaniṣṭhāś ca yathā jyeṣṭhe varteran tad bravīhi me ||
Yudhiṣṭhira sprach: „O Stier unter den Bharatas, sage mir, wie der ältere Bruder sich gegenüber den jüngeren Brüdern verhalten soll, und wie die jüngeren sich gegenüber dem Älteren zu verhalten haben.“
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharma-question about reciprocal duties within a sibling hierarchy: the elder must act with responsibility and care toward juniors, and the juniors must respond with proper respect and cooperation toward the elder.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-setting, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses the revered elder (here invoked as “Bharatarṣabha”) and requests guidance on the proper norms of behavior between elder and younger brothers.