Shloka 32
Bhīṣma on the Śara-Śayyā: Yudhiṣṭhira and Kṛṣṇa Approach the Eldest for Śānti
चातुराश्रम्यसंयुक्ता: सर्वे ते विदितास्तव । चातुर्विद्यि च ये प्रोक्ता श्चातुर्होत्रे च भारत
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
cāturāśramya-saṁyuktāḥ sarve te viditās tava |
cāturvidyāś ca ye proktāś cāturhotre ca bhārata ||
ವೈಶಂಪಾಯನನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—“ಭಾರತಾ! ನಾಲ್ಕು ಆಶ್ರಮಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಕರ್ತವ್ಯಗಳೂ ನಿನಗೆ ವಿದಿತ. ನಾಲ್ಕು ವಿದ್ಯೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಉಪದೇಶಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟ ತತ್ತ್ವಗಳೂ, ನಾಲ್ಕು ಹೋತೃಗಳಿಗೆ ವಿಧಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟ ಹೊಣೆಗಾರಿಕೆಗಳೂ ನಿನಗೆ ತಿಳಿದಿವೆ.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames dharma as comprehensive: it spans social-ethical duties (varṇa and āśrama), intellectual authority (the fourfold sacred learning), and ritual responsibility (the four priests). It implies that a well-instructed person should integrate conduct, knowledge, and sacrificial duty.
Vaiśampāyana addresses “Bhārata,” stating that the listener is already familiar with the established teachings on varṇa-āśrama duties, the doctrines taught in the four vidyās, and the prescribed functions of the four Vedic priests—setting a learned baseline before proceeding to further instruction.