Shloka 41
Dāyavibhāga (Inheritance Apportionment) and Household Precedence — Dialogue of Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīṣma
अतीव हास्य धर्मेच्छा पितुर्मेडभ्यधिका भवत् । ततो5हमन्रुवं राजन्नाचारेप्सुरिदं वच: । आचार ं तत्त्वतो वेत्तुमिच्छामि च पुन: पुन:,परंतु इस विषयमें मेरे चाचाजीकी बहुत प्रबल इच्छा थी कि धर्मका पालन हो (अत: वे पाणिगृहीता कन्याके त्यागपर अधिक जोर दे रहे थे)। राजन! तदनन्तर मैं आचार जाननेकी इच्छासे बोला--'पिताजी! मैं इस विषयमें यह ठीक-ठीक जानना चाहता हूँ कि परम्परागत आचार क्या है?'
atīva hāsya dharmecchā pitur meḍabhyadhikā bhavat | tato 'ham anruvaṁ rājann ācārepsur idaṁ vacaḥ | ācāraṁ tattvato vettum icchāmi ca punaḥ punaḥ |
Bhishma said: “My paternal uncle’s desire for the observance of dharma was exceedingly strong, even more insistent than my father’s. Then, O King, wishing to understand proper conduct, I spoke these words: ‘Father, I wish to know precisely—again and again—what the traditional rule of conduct truly is in this matter.’”
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
When dharma is disputed or emotionally charged, one should seek clarity about established ācāra (recognized norms of conduct) and understand it ‘tattvataḥ’—accurately and in principle—rather than acting on impulse or partial opinion.
Bhishma recounts a situation where his paternal uncle presses strongly for strict adherence to dharma. In response, Bhishma says he addressed his father, asking repeatedly for a precise explanation of what the accepted traditional conduct (ācāra) is in that specific matter.