Shloka 17
Arjuna’s request to Krishna and the opening of the Kāśyapa–Brāhmaṇa mokṣa discourse (Āśvamedhika-parva 16)
ब्राह्मण उवाच मोक्षधर्म समाश्रित्य कृष्ण यन्मामपृच्छथा: । भूतानामनुकम्पार्थ यन्मोहच्छेदनं विभो
brāhmaṇa uvāca: mokṣadharma-samāśritya kṛṣṇa yan mām apṛcchathāḥ | bhūtānām anukampārthaṃ yan moha-cchedanaṃ vibho ||
Le brāhmane dit : «Ô Kṛṣṇa, ô Madhusūdana ! Puisque tu m’as posé cette question, fondée sur le dharma de la délivrance, par compassion pour tous les êtres et afin de trancher l’illusion, ô Puissant, j’y répondrai exactement telle qu’elle est. Ô Seigneur, ô Mādhava, écoute avec attention mes paroles.»
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames mokṣa-dharma as compassionate instruction: true spiritual teaching aims to remove moha (delusion) for the welfare of all beings, and it should be given carefully and accurately.
A Brahmin respondent addresses Krishna, acknowledging Krishna’s question as rooted in the path of liberation and motivated by compassion; the Brahmin then prepares to deliver a faithful, attentive explanation.