Shloka 3
Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda
Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवं पृष्टो नरेन्द्रेण पाण्डवेन यशस्विना । धर्माणां परम॑ गुह्ां भीष्म: प्रोवाच पार्थिवम्
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: evaṁ pṛṣṭo narendreṇa pāṇḍavena yaśasvinā | dharmāṇāṁ paramaṁ guhyaṁ Bhīṣmaḥ provāca pārthivam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Thus questioned by the illustrious Pāṇḍava king, Bhīṣma began to declare to the sovereign the supreme and most secret essence of dharma—its deepest guiding principle for righteous rule and conduct.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
That dharma has an inner, ‘supreme secret’ dimension—beyond mere rules—worthy of careful transmission from an authoritative elder (Bhīṣma) to a responsible ruler (Yudhiṣṭhira).
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, Yudhiṣṭhira has asked a question, and Bhīṣma begins his response by expounding the deepest principles of dharma to guide the king’s conduct and governance.