Shloka 4
Gautama–Yama Saṃvāda: Mātṛ-Pitṛ-Ṛṇa (Debt to Parents) and Śubha-Loka Attainment
ते तस्य राज्ञो वचन सम्प्रगृह् तपोधना: । ऋषयो राजशार्दूलं तमपृच्छन् प्रयोजनम्,उन तपस्याके धनी महर्षियोंने राजाके वचनोंको सादर ग्रहण करके उन नृपश्रेष्ठके वहाँ आनेका प्रयोजन पूछा
te tasya rājño vacanaṃ sampragṛhya tapodhanāḥ | ṛṣayo rājaśārdūlaṃ tam apṛcchan prayojanam ||
Jene Rishis, reich an Askese, nahmen die Worte des Königs ehrerbietig an und fragten den Herrscher, einen Tiger unter den Menschen, welches Anliegen ihn dorthin geführt habe.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when a king is honored, his intentions must be examined through respectful inquiry; dharma is clarified by asking the purpose (prayojana) behind actions, especially in the presence of sages.
Bhishma describes how ascetic rishis receive the king’s words with due respect and then question him about the reason for his arrival, setting up a dharma-oriented conversation.