Chapter 2: Sudarśana Upākhyāna — Atithi-Dharma and the Conquest of Mṛtyu
Gṛhastha-Vrata
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Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca—Pitāmaha mahāprājña sarvaśāstraviśārada | śrutaṃ me mahad ākhyānam idaṃ matimatāṃ vara ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Wahai Kakek Agung, engkau amat bijaksana dan mahir dalam segala śāstra, yang terbaik di antara para arif. Kisah suci yang agung ini telah kudengar dengan penuh perhatian.”
युधिछिर उवाच
The verse models dhārmic learning: one should approach an authoritative elder-teacher with humility, acknowledge their śāstric mastery, and receive ethical instruction through attentive listening to instructive narratives.
After hearing a significant upākhyāna (didactic account), Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Bhīṣma respectfully, affirming that he has carefully listened—setting the stage for further questions and guidance on dharma in the Anuśāsana Parva.