Shloka 2
Chapter 2: Sudarśana Upākhyāna — Atithi-Dharma and the Conquest of Mṛtyu
Gṛhastha-Vrata
भूयस्तु श्रोतुमिच्छामि धर्मार्थसहितं नृप । कथ्यमानं त्वया किज्चित् तन्मे व्याख्यातुमहसि
bhūyas tu śrotum icchāmi dharmārthasahitaṁ nṛpa | kathyamānaṁ tvayā kiñcit tan me vyākhyātum arhasi ||
Dijo Yudhiṣṭhira: «Oh rey, deseo oír de nuevo alguna instrucción más de ti—una enseñanza fundada tanto en el dharma como en el artha (el bien práctico). Mientras hablas, te ruego que me lo expliques con mayor detalle, ¡oh soberano de los hombres!»
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the ideal of instruction that unites dharma (moral law, righteousness) with artha (practical good, welfare). Yudhiṣṭhira requests not merely abstract virtue but guidance that is ethically sound and socially effective, and asks for a detailed exposition.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s teaching setting, Yudhiṣṭhira continues his inquiry and urges the elder teacher (addressed as ‘king’) to elaborate further on a point being discussed, signaling an ongoing didactic dialogue on dharma—especially in the context of dāna (gift-giving) and conduct.