Shloka 9
पञ्चमहाभूतगुण-इन्द्रियनिग्रह-उपदेशः | Teaching on the Qualities of the Five Elements and Sense-Control
मार्कण्डेय उवाच हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि शूणु राजन् युधिष्छिर । धर्मिष्ठमिदमाख्यानं॑ धुन्धुमारस्य तच्छृुणु,मार्कण्डेयजी बोले--राजा युधिष्ठिर! सुनो। धुन्धुमारका आख्यान धर्ममय है। अब इसका वर्णन करता हूँ, ध्यान देकर सुनो
Mārkaṇḍeya uvāca: hanta te kathayiṣyāmi śṛṇu rājan Yudhiṣṭhira | dharmiṣṭham idam ākhyānaṃ Dhundhumārasya tac chṛṇu ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: “Very well—now I shall tell you. Listen, O king Yudhiṣṭhira. This narrative is profoundly grounded in dharma; hear, then, the account of Dhundhumāra.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the coming story as ‘dharmiṣṭha’—meant to instruct a king in righteous conduct. It highlights that ethical understanding is transmitted through attentive listening to exemplary narratives.
Mārkaṇḍeya addresses King Yudhiṣṭhira and announces that he will now recount the dharma-centered tale concerning Dhundhumāra, urging the king to listen carefully.