Shloka 4
Kīṭopākhyāna: Prajā-pālana as Kṣatra-vrata and the Attainment of Brāhmaṇya
सर्व तत्त्वेन धर्मज्ञ यथावदिह धर्मतः । कि च भक्ष्यमभक्ष्यं वा सर्वमेतद् वदस्व मे
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |
Sarvaṁ tattvena dharmajña yathāvad iha dharmataḥ |
Kiṁ ca bhakṣyam abhakṣyaṁ vā sarvam etad vadasva me, dharmajña pitāmaha ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “O knower of dharma, explain to me here, in full truth and in proper order, everything according to righteousness. And also tell me what is fit to be eaten and what is unfit to be eaten—declare all this to me, O dharma-wise Grandfather.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharma-inquiry: Yudhiṣṭhira requests a truthful, orderly exposition of righteous conduct, specifically including guidance on permissible and impermissible foods—linking ethical life to disciplined daily practice.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction setting, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Bhīṣma as the authoritative elder on dharma and asks him to clarify comprehensive rules of conduct, with a focused question about what may or may not be eaten.