Shloka 1
Dvaipāyana–Kīṭa Saṃvāda: Karmic Memory, Fear of Death, and Embodied Pleasure
भीकम (2 अमान चतुर्दशाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: हिंसा और मांसभक्षणकी घोर निन्दा वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो युधिछिरो राजा शरतल्पे पितामहम् | पुनरेव महातेजा: पप्रच्छ वदतां वर:
Vaiśampāyana uvāca | tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā śaratālpe pitāmaham | punar eva mahātejāḥ papraccha vadatāṃ varaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Alors le roi Yudhiṣṭhira interrogea de nouveau l’aïeul Bhīṣma, étendu sur le lit de flèches. Le roi rayonnant—le premier des orateurs—sollicita un enseignement supplémentaire, prélude à une sévère condamnation morale de la violence et de la consommation de chair.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a renewed inquiry into dharma: Yudhiṣṭhira seeks authoritative guidance from Bhīṣma, and the chapter’s ethical thrust (as indicated by the heading) moves toward a strong denunciation of violence and flesh-eating, grounding moral conduct in restraint and compassion.
After the war, Bhīṣma lies on the śaratālpa and instructs Yudhiṣṭhira. Here, Vaiśampāyana narrates that Yudhiṣṭhira again approaches Bhīṣma with questions, initiating the next segment of counsel.