Shloka 1
धौन्धुमारोपाख्यानम्
Dhaundhumāra-Upākhyāna: The Slaying of Dhundhu and the Epithet ‘Dhundhumāra’
हि ० आय न () अआटआ अपसा चतुन॑वर्त्याधेकशततमो< ध्याय: क्षत्रिय राजाओंका महत्त्व--सुहोत्र और शिबिकी प्रशंसा वैशम्पायन उवाच ततः पाण्डवा: पुनर्मार्कण्डेयमूचु:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! तदनन्तर पाण्डवोंने पुनः मार्कण्डेयजीसे प्रश्न किया
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: tataḥ Pāṇḍavāḥ punar Mārkaṇḍeyam ūcuḥ; Janamejaya! tad-anantaram Pāṇḍavaiḥ punaḥ Mārkaṇḍeyaṁ prati praśnaḥ kṛtaḥ.
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Kemudian para Pāṇḍava kembali menyapa resi Mārkaṇḍeya. Wahai Janamejaya, setelah itu para Pāṇḍava sekali lagi mengajukan pertanyaan mereka kepada sang resi Mārkaṇḍeya.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is approached through humble, repeated inquiry: even great heroes seek clarification from a sage, showing that ethical discernment is refined by questioning and listening to authoritative wisdom.
Within the Vaiśampāyana–Janamejaya frame, the Pāṇḍavas again turn to the sage Mārkaṇḍeya and pose a further question, setting up the next instruction or exemplary story about righteous conduct and royal greatness.