Shloka 60
Adhyāya 208: Aṅgirasī-kanyāḥ
Enumeration of Aṅgiras’ daughters and attribute-names
मार्कण्डेय उवाच सतु विप्रो महाप्राज्ञो धर्मव्याधमपृच्छत । शिष्टाचारं कथमहं विद्यामिति नरोत्तम,मार्कण्डेयजी कहते हैं--युधिष्ठिर! तदनन्तर परम बुद्धिमान् कौशिकने धर्मव्याथसे पूछा--“नरश्रेष्ठ! मुझे शिष्टाचारका ज्ञान कैसे हो?
Mārkaṇḍeya uvāca: sa tu vipro mahāprājño dharmavyādham apṛcchat | śiṣṭācāraṁ katham ahaṁ vidyām iti narottama ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: Then that highly wise brāhmaṇa questioned the Dharma-vyādha: “O best of men, how may I come to know the conduct of the cultured and the righteous (śiṣṭācāra)?”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
True knowledge of dharma begins with humble inquiry into śiṣṭācāra—ethical conduct as lived by the truly virtuous—implying that righteousness is recognized through practice and character, not merely status or profession.
In Mārkaṇḍeya’s narration, the wise brāhmaṇa Kauśika approaches the Dharma-vyādha and asks how he can learn śiṣṭācāra, setting up a discourse where an unexpected teacher explains practical dharma.