Arjuna’s request to Krishna and the opening of the Kāśyapa–Brāhmaṇa mokṣa discourse (Āśvamedhika-parva 16)
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत आश्वमेधिकपर्वके अन्तर्गत अश्वमेधपर्वमें पंद्रहवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ
āgacchad brāhmaṇaḥ kaścit svargalokād ariṃdama | brahmalokāc ca durdharṣaḥ so 'smābhiḥ pūjito 'bhavat || śatrudamana! ekadā durdharṣo brāhmaṇo brahmalokād avaruhya svargalokaṃ gatvā mama samīpam āgataḥ | mayā sa vidhivat pūjitaḥ, mokṣadharme ca praśnaḥ kṛtaḥ | bharataśreṣṭha! mama praśnasya sa sundareṇa vidhinā pratyuvāca | pārtha! tad eva te 'haṃ vakṣyāmi; anyathā-buddhiṃ mā kṛthāḥ, dhyānena śṛṇu ||
風神ヴァーユは言った。「敵を鎮める者よ、かつて一人の恐るべき婆羅門が梵天界より降り、天界を経て我がもとへ来た。われは正しき儀礼により彼を敬い迎え、解脱へ導く法(モークシャ・ダルマ)について問うた。バーラタ族の最勝者よ、彼はわが問いに美しく、しかも法にかなって答えた。パールタよ、今まさにその教えを汝に語ろう—心を一点に定め、相反する疑いを差し挟むことなく聴け。」
वायुदेव उवाच
The passage frames mokṣadharma as authoritative knowledge transmitted through proper reverence and disciplined listening: honoring a realized teacher, asking sincerely about liberation, and receiving the answer with focused attention and without contrarian doubt.
Vāyu recounts that a formidable Brahmin descended from Brahmaloka, came via Svargaloka to him, was duly honored, and then answered Vāyu’s question on mokṣadharma. Vāyu now prepares to relay that teaching to Pārtha (Arjuna), urging attentive listening.