Shloka 2
कर्म–ज्ञान–दैव–स्वभावविचारः
Inquiry into Karma, Knowledge, Fate, and Nature
भीष्म उवाच अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि पृच्छतो भरतर्षभ । उग्रसेनस्य संवादं नारदे केशवस्य च
bhīṣma uvāca | atra te vartayiṣyāmi pṛcchato bharatarṣabha | ugrasenasyā saṃvādaṃ nārade keśavasya ca ||
Bhishma said: “Here I shall relate to you, O bull among the Bharatas, in response to your question, the dialogue between Ugrasena and Keshava, concerning Narada.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sets up a didactic method central to the Shanti Parva: ethical and political insight (dharma and governance) is conveyed through authoritative dialogues. Bhishma signals that the forthcoming exchange—between a king (Ugrasena) and Krishna (Keshava), with Narada as the topic—will serve as guidance prompted by the listener’s inquiry.
Bhishma, responding to the question of the Bharata prince (addressed as Bharatarshabha, i.e., Yudhiṣṭhira), introduces a new embedded story: he will recount a conversation between Ugrasena and Krishna that arose in connection with Narada.