Shloka 46
Sarasvatī–Tārkṣya Saṃvāda: Agnihotra-vidhi, Dāna-phala, and Mokṣa-prasaṅga (सरस्वती–तार्क्ष्यसंवादः)
पुरावृत्ता: कथा: पुण्या: सदाचारान् सनातनान् | राज्ञां सत्रीणामृषीणां च मार्कण्डेय विचक्ष्व न:,श्रीकृष्ण बोले--मार्कण्डेयजी! आपके उपदेश सुननेकी इच्छासे यहाँ पाण्डवोंके साथ-साथ बहुत-से ब्राह्मण भी पधारे हुए हैं। द्रौपदी, सत्यभामा तथा मैं, सब लोग आपकी उत्तम वाणीका रसास्वादन करना चाहते हैं। आप प्राचीनकालके नरेशों, नारियों तथा महर्षियोंकी पुरातन पुण्य कथाएँ सुनाइये और हमलोगोंसे सनातन सदाचारका वर्णन कीजिये
purāvṛttāḥ kathāḥ puṇyāḥ sadācārān sanātanān | rājñāṃ strīṇām ṛṣīṇāṃ ca mārkaṇḍeya vicakṣva naḥ ||
Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: “O Mārkaṇḍeya, recount to us the holy tales of ancient times—stories of kings, of noble women, and of seers—and expound the timeless standards of right conduct. We wish to hear and learn the eternal ways of dharma through those exemplary narratives.”
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is best learned through exemplary narratives: by hearing ancient, meritorious stories of rulers, virtuous women, and sages, one understands the perennial norms of good conduct (sadācāra) that guide life across ages.
Kṛṣṇa addresses the sage Mārkaṇḍeya and requests him to narrate old, holy accounts and to explain timeless ethical conduct, setting up a didactic storytelling sequence within the Vana Parva.