Shloka 3
Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda
Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवं पृष्टो नरेन्द्रेण पाण्डवेन यशस्विना । धर्माणां परम॑ गुह्ां भीष्म: प्रोवाच पार्थिवम्
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: evaṁ pṛṣṭo narendreṇa pāṇḍavena yaśasvinā | dharmāṇāṁ paramaṁ guhyaṁ Bhīṣmaḥ provāca pārthivam ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Ainsi interrogé par l’illustre roi Pāṇḍava, Bhīṣma se mit à exposer au souverain l’essence suprême et la plus secrète du dharma — son principe le plus profond, guide d’un juste gouvernement et d’une conduite droite.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
That dharma has an inner, ‘supreme secret’ dimension—beyond mere rules—worthy of careful transmission from an authoritative elder (Bhīṣma) to a responsible ruler (Yudhiṣṭhira).
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, Yudhiṣṭhira has asked a question, and Bhīṣma begins his response by expounding the deepest principles of dharma to guide the king’s conduct and governance.