Shloka 4
Adhyāya 55 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Hesitation and Bhīṣma’s Authorization of Inquiry
Rājadharma Prelude
सर्वेषां दीप्तपशसां कुरूणां धर्मचारिणाम् | यस्य नास्ति सम:कश्रित् स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डव:
sarveṣāṁ dīptapaśasāṁ kurūṇāṁ dharmacāriṇām | yasya nāsti samaḥ kaścit sa māṁ pṛcchatu pāṇḍavaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Among all the Kuru men of blazing energy who walk in righteousness, let that Pāṇḍava who has no equal question me.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates dharma as the defining standard of excellence: true preeminence among the Kurus is framed not merely as strength but as righteous conduct, and it invites disciplined inquiry as the proper way to receive instruction.
Vaiśampāyana, in the Shānti Parva’s instructional setting, calls upon the foremost Pāṇḍava—described as peerless among the righteous Kurus—to pose his question, signaling the transition into a teaching or clarification on dharma.