Shloka 1
गोशकृन्माहात्म्य-प्रश्नः (On the Merit of Cow-Dung and the Abode of Śrī) / Inquiry into the Sanctity of Cow-Dung
ऑपन--माजल छा टॉस: अष्टसप्ततितमो< ध्याय: वसिष्ठका सौदासको गोदानकी विधि एवं महिमा बताना भीष्म उवाच एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु वसिष्ठमृषिसत्तमम् | इक्ष्वाकुवंशजो राजा सौदासो वदतां वर:
Bhīṣma uvāca | etasminn eva kāle tu vasiṣṭham ṛṣisattamam | ikṣvākuvaṃśajo rājā saudāso vadatāṃ varaḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai Raja, pada waktu itu juga raja Saudāsa dari wangsa Ikshvaku—terkemuka di antara para penutur—mendatangi Vasiṣṭha, yang terbaik di antara para resi, pengembara segala loka, gudang kebijaksanaan Weda, resi yang sempurna dan abadi, serta pendeta keluarganya. Setelah bersujud hormat, Saudāsa mulai bertanya demikian.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical model of governance: a king, even if eloquent and powerful, seeks guidance from a foremost sage, implying that righteous rule (dharma) is grounded in humility and consultation with learned spiritual authorities.
Bhishma begins a new episode by introducing King Saudāsa of the Ikshvaku line, who approaches the sage Vasiṣṭha and initiates a set of questions that will lead into the chapter’s instruction.