Shloka 6
ब्राह्मण–क्षत्रिय-श्रेष्ठता-विवादः
Arjuna–Vāyu Dialogue on Brāhmaṇa and Kṣatriya Precedence
रेणुक उवाच अनुज्ञातो$स्मि देवैश्व पितृभिश्न महाबला: । धर्मगुह्यानि युष्माकं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः । कथयध्वं महाभागा यद् वस्तत्त्वं मनीषितम्
Reṇuka uvāca: anujñāto 'smi devaiś ca pitṛbhiś ca mahābalāḥ | dharma-guhyāni yuṣmākaṃ śrotum icchāmi tattvataḥ | kathayadhvaṃ mahābhāgā yad vastattvaṃ manīṣitam ||
Renuka berkata: “Wahai para Diggaja yang mahaperkasa, aku telah diberi izin oleh para dewa dan para Pitri; sebab itu aku datang kemari. Aku ingin mendengar dengan sebenar-benarnya rahasia dharma yang kalian junjung. Wahai yang mulia dan berbudi agung, nyatakanlah hakikat yang telah ditetapkan kebijaksanaan kalian sebagai sari dharma.”
रेणुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames dharma as having a subtle, ‘hidden’ dimension (guhya) that must be approached through authorized tradition (devas and Pitṛs) and careful inquiry (tattvataḥ). It emphasizes humility and the pursuit of the essential truth (vastattva) rather than mere outward rule-following.
Reṇuka addresses a group of powerful, noble interlocutors and explains that he has come with the sanction of divine and ancestral authorities. He requests that they disclose their deepest understanding of dharma—its inner principles and true essence.