Shloka 2
च्यवन-कुशिक-संवादः
Cyavana–Kuśika Dialogue on Hospitality, Service, and Lineage Questions
विप्रवादा: सुबहव: श्रूयन्ते पुत्रकारिता: । अत्र नो मुहतां राजन् संशयं छेत्तुमहसि
vipravādāḥ subahavaḥ śrūyante putrakāritāḥ | atra no muhatāṃ rājan saṃśayaṃ chettum arhasi ||
Bhishma said: “Many and varied opinions are heard among the learned regarding the begetting of sons. In this matter, O King, we are bewildered and cannot arrive at a firm conclusion; therefore you ought to cut through our doubt and settle it.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When traditions and expert opinions conflict, one should seek a clear dharmic resolution from a competent authority; confusion should be removed by reasoned guidance rather than clinging to scattered hearsay.
Bhishma, in his instruction to the king, notes that many differing teachings exist about how sons are to be obtained and what is proper in that regard, and he asks the king to resolve the uncertainty by giving a decisive clarification.