Shloka 9
Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy
यदैतद् यादृशं चैतद् यथा चैतत् प्रवर्तितम् । निखिलेन महाप्राज्ञ भवानेतद् ब्रवीतु मे,महामते! यह सहधर्म जबसे प्रचलित हुआ, जिस रूपमें सामने आया और जिस प्रकार इसकी प्रवृत्ति हुई, ये सारी बातें आप मुझे बताइये
yad etad yādṛśaṃ caitad yathā caitat pravartitam | nikhilena mahāprājña bhavān etad bravītu me, mahāmate ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “O greatly wise one, please tell me in full—what this practice is like, in what form it first appeared, and in what manner it came to be set in motion and established. Explain it to me completely, O man of profound understanding.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models dharmic inquiry: a ruler-disciple respectfully asks an authoritative sage to explain a practice’s true nature, its original form, and the process by which it became established—emphasizing that ethical norms should be understood through their sources and rationale, not merely followed as habit.
Yudhiṣṭhira, seeking clarity on a specific dharmic practice previously mentioned in the dialogue, requests a complete account from the learned elder—asking what it is, how it appeared, and how it came into operation—so he can grasp its proper application and significance.