Shloka 19
Arjuna’s request to Krishna and the opening of the Kāśyapa–Brāhmaṇa mokṣa discourse (Āśvamedhika-parva 16)
वश्िद् विप्रस्तपोयुक्त: काश्यपो धर्मवित्तम: । आससाद द्विजं कंचिद् धर्माणामागतागमम्
vṛddho vipras tapoyuktaḥ kāśyapo dharmavittamaḥ | āsasāda dvijaṁ kañcid dharmāṇām āgatāgamam ||
Un brāhmane âgé, nommé Kāśyapa—doué d’austérité et le plus éminent des connaisseurs du dharma—s’approcha d’un sage « deux-fois-né » qui avait maîtrisé la tradition transmise au sujet de la droiture. En ces temps anciens, Kāśyapa rechercha ce voyant accompli, renommé pour percer les secrets des śāstra sur le dharma et pour discerner les principes profonds qui gouvernent la vie du monde : souffrance et bonheur, naissance et mort, et les conséquences morales de l’acte.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is best understood through disciplined inquiry: a sincere practitioner (tapas-yukta) approaches an authoritative knower of tradition (āgata-āgama) to learn the subtle principles that govern right conduct and the moral consequences of actions.
The verse sets the scene: the elder Brahmin Kāśyapa, renowned for austerity and knowledge of dharma, goes to meet a learned twice-born sage who is portrayed as an expert in the transmitted teachings on dharma, preparing for a dialogue or instruction.