Shloka 1
Gautama’s Flight, the Enchanted Grove, and the Arrival of Rājadharma
Nāḍījaṅgha
/ ऑपन-माज बछ। -ज:डि द्विषष्ट्याधिकशततमो< ध्याय: सत्यके लक्षण
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | satyaṃ dharmaṃ praśaṃsanti viprarṣipitṛdevatāḥ | satyam icchāmy ahaṃ śrotuṃ tan me brūhi pitāmaha ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Wahai Kakek Agung, para brahmana, resi, leluhur, dan para dewa memuji kebenaran sebagai wujud dharma. Karena itu aku ingin mendengar apa sesungguhnya ‘satya’ itu—jelaskanlah kepadaku.”
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Truthfulness (satya) is presented as a central expression of dharma, praised across human and divine authorities; the verse frames satya as foundational to moral order and worthy of precise definition.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Bhīṣma as ‘Grandfather’ and requests a clear explanation of what truth is, setting up Bhīṣma’s forthcoming discourse on satya—its nature, marks, and greatness.