Shloka 1
गोशकृन्माहात्म्य-प्रश्नः (On the Merit of Cow-Dung and the Abode of Śrī) / Inquiry into the Sanctity of Cow-Dung
ऑपन--माजल छा टॉस: अष्टसप्ततितमो< ध्याय: वसिष्ठका सौदासको गोदानकी विधि एवं महिमा बताना भीष्म उवाच एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु वसिष्ठमृषिसत्तमम् | इक्ष्वाकुवंशजो राजा सौदासो वदतां वर:
Bhīṣma uvāca | etasminn eva kāle tu vasiṣṭham ṛṣisattamam | ikṣvākuvaṃśajo rājā saudāso vadatāṃ varaḥ ||
ភីष្មបាននិយាយថា៖ «ឱ ព្រះរាជា! នៅពេលនោះឯង សៅទាសា ព្រះមហាក្សត្រពូជអិក្ខ្វាគុ អ្នកឆ្នើមក្នុងការនិយាយ បានចូលទៅជួបវសិષ્ઠ មហាឥសីដ៏ប្រសើរបំផុត ហើយបានចាប់ផ្តើមសួរព្រះអង្គ»។
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical model of governance: a king, even if eloquent and powerful, seeks guidance from a foremost sage, implying that righteous rule (dharma) is grounded in humility and consultation with learned spiritual authorities.
Bhishma begins a new episode by introducing King Saudāsa of the Ikshvaku line, who approaches the sage Vasiṣṭha and initiates a set of questions that will lead into the chapter’s instruction.