Shloka 23
राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)
मनुना चैव राजेन्द्र गीतौ श्लोकौ महात्मना । धर्मेषु स्वेषु कौरव्य हृदि तौ कर्तुमहसि,राजेन्द्र! कुरुनन्दन! महात्मा मनुने अपने धर्मशास्त्रोंमें दो श"्लोकोंका गान किया है, तुम उन दोनोंको अपने हृदयमें धारण करो
bhīṣma uvāca | manunā caiva rājendra gītau ślokau mahātmanā | dharmeṣu sveṣu kauravya hṛdi tau kartum arhasi |
Bhishma said: “O best of kings, the great-souled Manu has sung two verses concerning one’s own duties. O Kaurava, take those two verses into your heart—make them your inner guide in matters of dharma.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma urges the king to internalize authoritative guidance on svadharma—one’s own rightful duties—by holding Manu’s two dharma-verses in the heart as a constant ethical compass.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to Yudhishthira after the war, Bhishma continues his discourse on righteous conduct and governance, introducing (or preparing to cite) two verses attributed to Manu and advising the king to adopt them inwardly.