Shloka 19
Arjuna’s request to Krishna and the opening of the Kāśyapa–Brāhmaṇa mokṣa discourse (Āśvamedhika-parva 16)
वश्िद् विप्रस्तपोयुक्त: काश्यपो धर्मवित्तम: । आससाद द्विजं कंचिद् धर्माणामागतागमम्
vṛddho vipras tapoyuktaḥ kāśyapo dharmavittamaḥ | āsasāda dvijaṁ kañcid dharmāṇām āgatāgamam ||
Pada zaman purba, seorang brahmana tua bernama Kāśyapa—berbekal tapa dan unggul dalam pengetahuan dharma—mendatangi seorang resi dwija tertentu yang telah menguasai tradisi ajaran yang diwariskan tentang kebenaran. Sang resi termasyhur menembus rahasia śāstra-śāstra dharma, mahir dalam pengetahuan tentang masa lampau dan masa depan, cakap memahami hakikat tatanan dunia, mengerti makna suka dan duka, mengetahui hakikat kelahiran dan kematian, serta mampu membedakan dosa dan kebajikan.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is best understood through disciplined inquiry: a sincere practitioner (tapas-yukta) approaches an authoritative knower of tradition (āgata-āgama) to learn the subtle principles that govern right conduct and the moral consequences of actions.
The verse sets the scene: the elder Brahmin Kāśyapa, renowned for austerity and knowledge of dharma, goes to meet a learned twice-born sage who is portrayed as an expert in the transmitted teachings on dharma, preparing for a dialogue or instruction.