Shloka 1
Śuka’s Nirveda: Vyāsa’s Admonition on Dharma, Impermanence, and ‘Imperishable Wealth’ (अक्षय-धन)
/ (दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका ३ “लोक मिलाकर कुल ५१३ “लोक हैं) नफमशा (0) असऔअन+- नवाधिकत्रिशततमो< ध्याय: जनकवंशी वसुमान्को एक मुनिका धर्मविषयक उपदेश भीष्म उवाच मृगयां विचरन् कश्चिद् विजने जनकात्मज: । वने ददर्श विप्रेन्द्रमृषिं वंशधरं भूगो:
bhīṣma uvāca |
mṛgayāṃ vicaran kaścid vijane janakātmajaḥ |
vane dadarśa viprendraṃ ṛṣiṃ vaṃśadharaṃ bhṛgoḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : Ô roi, jadis un prince de la lignée de Janaka, errant à la chasse dans une forêt déserte, aperçut dans les bois un grand sage — le plus éminent parmi les brahmanes — descendant du voyant Bhṛgu.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse introduces a dharma-teaching framework: a royal figure engaged in a worldly pursuit (hunting) encounters a spiritually authoritative sage. The implied ethical thrust is that true guidance on right conduct (dharma) is sought from the wise, and that royal power and pleasure must be tempered by restraint and moral instruction.
Bhishma narrates an episode: a prince from Janaka’s dynasty, wandering in a deserted forest while hunting, sees a distinguished Brahmin sage who is a descendant of Bhṛgu. This meeting functions as the narrative trigger for the forthcoming instruction on dharma.