Shloka 4
Kīṭopākhyāna: Prajā-pālana as Kṣatra-vrata and the Attainment of Brāhmaṇya
सर्व तत्त्वेन धर्मज्ञ यथावदिह धर्मतः । कि च भक्ष्यमभक्ष्यं वा सर्वमेतद् वदस्व मे
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |
Sarvaṁ tattvena dharmajña yathāvad iha dharmataḥ |
Kiṁ ca bhakṣyam abhakṣyaṁ vā sarvam etad vadasva me, dharmajña pitāmaha ||
ಯುಧಿಷ್ಠಿರನು ಹೇಳಿದನು— ಧರ್ಮಜ್ಞ ಪಿತಾಮಹ, ಧರ್ಮಾನುಸಾರ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಸತ್ಯದಿಂದ ಹಾಗೂ ಯಥಾಕ್ರಮವಾಗಿ ಇಲ್ಲಿನ ಎಲ್ಲ ವಿಷಯಗಳನ್ನು ನನಗೆ ಹೇಳಿರಿ. ಇನ್ನೂ ಯಾವುದು ಭಕ್ಷ್ಯ, ಯಾವುದು ಅಭಕ್ಷ್ಯ— ಅದನ್ನೂ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿ ತಿಳಿಸಿರಿ।
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharma-inquiry: Yudhiṣṭhira requests a truthful, orderly exposition of righteous conduct, specifically including guidance on permissible and impermissible foods—linking ethical life to disciplined daily practice.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction setting, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Bhīṣma as the authoritative elder on dharma and asks him to clarify comprehensive rules of conduct, with a focused question about what may or may not be eaten.