Shloka 54
जातिं देशं च सत्यं च माहात्म्यं भरतर्षभ | धर्म वृत्ति च विज्ञाय क्षत्रियाणां नराधिप,राजन! भरतश्रेष्ठ) महाभारतकी कथा प्रारम्भ हो जानेपर प्रत्येक पर्वमें क्षत्रियोंकी जाति, देश, सत्यता, माहात्म्य, धर्म और वृत्तिको जानकर ब्राह्मणोंको जो-जो वस्तुएँ अर्पित करनी चाहिये, अब उनका वर्णन करूँगा
jātiṃ deśaṃ ca satyaṃ ca māhātmyaṃ bharatarṣabha | dharmavṛttiṃ ca vijñāya kṣatriyāṇāṃ narādhipa rājan bharataśreṣṭha ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O bull among the Bharatas, O king—best of the Bharata line—having ascertained the lineage and homeland, the truthfulness and greatness, and also the dharma and customary conduct of kṣatriyas, I shall now describe what offerings should be presented to the brāhmaṇas in each parvan once the Mahābhārata narrative has begun.”
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.