Shloka 54
जातिं देशं च सत्यं च माहात्म्यं भरतर्षभ | धर्म वृत्ति च विज्ञाय क्षत्रियाणां नराधिप
jātiṃ deśaṃ ca satyaṃ ca māhātmyaṃ bharatarṣabha | dharmavṛttiṃ ca vijñāya kṣatriyāṇāṃ narādhipa rājan bharataśreṣṭha ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai raja, banteng di antara keturunan Bharata—yang termulia di garis Bharata—setelah menimbang asal-usul dan negeri, keteguhan pada kebenaran dan kebesaran, serta dharma dan adat laku para kṣatriya, kini akan kuuraikan persembahan apa saja yang patut disampaikan kepada para brāhmaṇa pada tiap parvan, ketika kisah Mahābhārata telah dimulai.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ethical narration as grounded in dharma: understanding a ruler’s lineage, land, truthfulness, and greatness, along with kṣatriya norms, guides proper conduct—here expressed as appropriate, parvan-specific offerings to brāhmaṇas.
Vaiśampāyana addresses the king and announces a forthcoming description: once the Mahābhārata story is underway, he will explain, for each parvan, what gifts should be offered to brāhmaṇas, based on the recognized qualities and dharma-conduct of kṣatriyas.