Shloka 7
Gautama–Yama Saṃvāda: Mātṛ-Pitṛ-Ṛṇa (Debt to Parents) and Śubha-Loka Attainment
“मानद! हम यह सब सुनना चाहते हैं, आप कहाँसे पधारे हैं? किस कुलमें आपका जन्म हुआ है? तथा आपका नाम क्या है? ये सारी बातें हमें बताइये" ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | mānada! vayaṁ etat sarvaṁ śrotum icchāmaḥ | bhavān kutaḥ samāgataḥ? kasmin kule tava janma? tathā tava nāma kim? etāḥ sarvāḥ kathā asmān ācakṣva || tataḥ sa rājā sarvebhyo dvijebhyaḥ puruṣarṣabha ācacakṣe yathānyāyaṁ paricaryāṁ ca bhārata | puruṣapravara bharatanandana! tadanantaraṁ rājā sumitrāṇe (sumitraḥ) tān sarvān brāhmaṇān yathocitaṁ pratyuvāca svaṁ ca kāryakramaṁ nyavedayat ||
Bhishma said: “O venerable one, we wish to hear all this. From where have you come? In what lineage were you born, and what is your name? Tell us all these matters.” Then that king, O best of men, addressed all the Brahmins in a manner befitting propriety, and also explained the service and arrangements to be rendered. O Bharata, foremost of men, delight of the Bharatas—thereafter King Sumitra spoke to those Brahmins with due respect and disclosed his intended course of action.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage emphasizes dharmic propriety in speech and conduct: inquiry into a guest’s origin, lineage, and name is framed respectfully, and the king responds to Brahmins ‘yathānyāyam’—in a manner consistent with social and ethical norms—highlighting truthful self-disclosure and appropriate hospitality/service (paricaryā).
Bhishma prompts a respectful interrogation—asking where the person has come from, their family line, and their name. The narrative then shifts to the king (Sumitra), who addresses the assembled Brahmins properly and outlines the arrangements or service to be provided, indicating an orderly, dharma-aligned reception and communication.