Shloka 5
श्रेयो-धर्मकर्मविचारः
Inquiry into Śreyas, Dharma, and Karma
तमासीन महाप्रज्ञमुशना वाक्यमब्रवीत् । ब्रूहास्मे दानवेन्द्राय विष्णोमहित्म्यमुत्तमम्
tam āsīnaṁ mahāprajñam uśanā vākyam abravīt | brūhāsme dānavendrāya viṣṇor māhātmyam uttamam ||
ಮಹಾಪ್ರಜ್ಞನಾದ ಸನತ್ಕುಮಾರನು ಆಸೀನನಾದ ಬಳಿಕ, ಉಶನಸ (ಶುಕ್ರಾಚಾರ್ಯ)ನು ಅವನಿಗೆ ಹೇಳಿದನು—“ಭಗವನ್! ಈ ದಾನವೇಂದ್ರನಿಗೆ ವಿಷ್ಣುವಿನ ಉತ್ತಮ ಮಹಾತ್ಮ್ಯವನ್ನು ವಿವರಿಸು.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical power of śāstra-based instruction: seeking and proclaiming the supreme greatness of Vishnu is presented as a means to elevate understanding and align even powerful rulers (including Danavas) toward higher dharma through reverent knowledge.
Sanatkumara is seated; Shukracharya (Ushanas) approaches and requests that he narrate Vishnu’s supreme māhātmya, specifically so it can be conveyed to the Danava-king.