Shloka 41
Dāyavibhāga (Inheritance Apportionment) and Household Precedence — Dialogue of Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīṣma
अतीव हास्य धर्मेच्छा पितुर्मेडभ्यधिका भवत् । ततो5हमन्रुवं राजन्नाचारेप्सुरिदं वच: । आचार ं तत्त्वतो वेत्तुमिच्छामि च पुन: पुन:
atīva hāsya dharmecchā pitur meḍabhyadhikā bhavat | tato 'ham anruvaṁ rājann ācārepsur idaṁ vacaḥ | ācāraṁ tattvato vettum icchāmi ca punaḥ punaḥ |
ビーシュマは言った。「父方の叔父は、ダルマの遵守を望む心がきわめて強く、父にも勝るほどであった。そこで王よ、正しい作法を知りたいと願って、私はこう申し上げた。『父上、この件について、伝統の規範が真に何であるかを、正確に——幾度でも——知りたいのです。』」
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
When dharma is disputed or emotionally charged, one should seek clarity about established ācāra (recognized norms of conduct) and understand it ‘tattvataḥ’—accurately and in principle—rather than acting on impulse or partial opinion.
Bhishma recounts a situation where his paternal uncle presses strongly for strict adherence to dharma. In response, Bhishma says he addressed his father, asking repeatedly for a precise explanation of what the accepted traditional conduct (ācāra) is in that specific matter.