Shloka 1
राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)
अत-#-#क्त षट्पज्चाशत्तमो<5 ध्याय: युधिष्ठटिरके पूछनेपर भीष्मके द्वारा राजधर्मका वर्णन
vaiśampāyana uvāca | praṇipatya hṛṣīkeśam abhivādya pitāmaham | anumānya gurūn sarvān paryapṛcchad yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。フリシーケーシャ（クリシュナ）に拝礼し、祖父ビーシュマに敬礼したのち、ユディシュティラは—そこに居合わせた長老と師たちすべての同意を得て—問いを発した。この場面は、これから説かれる王法の教えが、敬虔と許可と倫理的厳粛さに支えられた、規律ある問いとしてなされることを示している。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Before seeking guidance on statecraft and dharma, the king must approach knowledge with humility, proper respect to spiritual and moral authorities, and with the community of elders’ consent—signaling that righteous rule begins with disciplined inquiry and reverence.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Yudhiṣṭhira bows to Kṛṣṇa and Bhīṣma, receives the approval of the assembled elders, and then formally asks his question—setting the stage for Bhīṣma’s discourse on rajadharma in the Shānti Parva.