Shloka 1
Chapter 2: Sudarśana Upākhyāna — Atithi-Dharma and the Conquest of Mṛtyu
Gṛhastha-Vrata
अत-४#-क+ द्वितीयो<5्ध्याय: प्रजापति मनुके वंशका वर्णन, अग्निपुत्र वकील अतिथिसत्काररूपी धर्मके पालनसे मृत्युपर पाना युधिछिर उवाच पितामह महाप्राज्ञ सर्वशास्त्रविशारद । श्रुतं मे महदाख्यानमिदं मतिमतां वर,युधिष्ठिरने कहा--बुद्धिमानोंमें श्रेष्ठ सर्वशास्त्र-विशारद महाप्राज्ञ पितामह! इस महत्त्वपूर्ण उपाख्यानको मैंने बड़े ध्यानसे सुना है
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca—Pitāmaha mahāprājña sarvaśāstraviśārada | śrutaṃ me mahad ākhyānam idaṃ matimatāṃ vara ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “O grandsire, profoundly wise and skilled in all the śāstras—O best among the discerning—this great sacred narrative has been heard by me with attentive care.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models dhārmic learning: one should approach an authoritative elder-teacher with humility, acknowledge their śāstric mastery, and receive ethical instruction through attentive listening to instructive narratives.
After hearing a significant upākhyāna (didactic account), Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Bhīṣma respectfully, affirming that he has carefully listened—setting the stage for further questions and guidance on dharma in the Anuśāsana Parva.