Tilā-Dāna, Dīpa-Dāna, and Nitya-Jalapradāna
Yama–Brāhmaṇa Saṃvāda) | तिलदान-दीपदान-नित्यजलप्रदान (यम-ब्राह्मण संवाद
द्वारकामनुसम्प्राप्तं नारद देवदर्शनम् । पप्रच्छेदं वच: प्रश्न॑ देवकी धर्मदर्शनम्
Dvārakām anusamprāptaṃ Nāradaṃ devadarśanam | papracchedam vacaḥ praśnaṃ Devakī dharmadarśanam ||
ಭೀಷ್ಮನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಒಮ್ಮೆ ದೇವದರ್ಶನ ಹೊಂದಿದ ದೇವರ್ಷಿ ನಾರದನು ದ್ವಾರಕೆಗೆ ಬಂದನು. ಆಗ ಧರ್ಮದರ್ಶನವಿದ್ದ ದೇವಕೀ ದೇವಿಯು ಅವನ ಮುಂದೆ ಇದೇ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಯನ್ನು ಕೇಳಿದಳು.
भीष्म उवाच
The verse frames dharma as something to be sought through respectful inquiry: even a virtuous person like Devaki turns to a realized sage (Narada) for clarification, emphasizing humility and the value of authoritative guidance in ethical matters.
Narada arrives in Dvaraka, and Devaki approaches him and asks a specific question about dharma; Bhishma introduces this scene as the setting for the instruction that follows.