Shloka 3
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
धर्मार्थकुशलो राजा धर्मशास्त्रविशारद: । पृच्छामि त्वां कुरुश्रेष्ठ तन्मे व्याख्यातुमहसि
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: dharmārthakuśalo rājā dharmaśāstraviśāradaḥ | pṛcchāmi tvāṃ kuruśreṣṭha tan me vyākhyātum arhasi, bharatabhūṣaṇa |
Yudhiṣṭhira dit : « Ô le meilleur des Kuru, ornement de la lignée des Bhārata, je t’interroge : daigne m’expliquer cette compréhension grâce à laquelle un roi, habile en dharma et en artha, et versé dans les traités du dharma, ne tombe pas dans l’égarement même lorsqu’il est entouré d’ennemis. »
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Yudhiṣṭhira frames ideal kingship as grounded in a specific kind of buddhi (discriminative understanding): mastery of dharma and artha, supported by dharmaśāstra learning, that prevents moha (delusion) even under hostile pressure.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction setting, Yudhiṣṭhira respectfully questions an elder/teacher addressed as ‘best of the Kurus’ and ‘ornament of the Bharatas,’ requesting an explanation of the wisdom that keeps a righteous, competent king steady when surrounded by enemies.