कपोती-विलापः स्वर्गसंयोगश्च
The Dove’s Lament and Celestial Reunion
मुनिर्वाच धर्मनिश्चयसंयुक्तां कामार्थसहितां कथाम् | शृणुष्वावहितो राजन् गदतो मे महाभुज
munir uvāca dharmaniścayasaṃyuktāṃ kāmārthasahitāṃ kathām | śṛṇuṣvāvahito rājan gadato me mahābhuja ||
ಮುನಿ ಹೇಳಿದರು—ಮಹಾಬಾಹು ರಾಜನೇ, ಎಚ್ಚರದಿಂದ ಕೇಳು. ಈ ಕಥೆ ಧರ್ಮನಿಶ್ಚಯದಿಂದ ಯುಕ್ತವಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಅರ್ಥ ಮತ್ತು ಕಾಮ ಎಂಬ ಪುರುಷಾರ್ಥಗಳನ್ನೂ ಸಮಗ್ರವಾಗಿ ಒಳಗೊಂಡಿದೆ.
भीष्म उवाच
The verse frames the forthcoming discourse as a balanced instruction: it clarifies dharma through firm discernment (niścaya) while also acknowledging artha and kāma as legitimate human aims when integrated under dharma.
A sage addresses a king and invites him to listen with full attention, introducing a story/discourse that will guide ethical judgment (dharma) alongside practical and human concerns (artha and kāma).