Shloka 50
Āśā-prabhava (आशाप्रभव) — On the Rise and Power of Hope/Expectation
Sumitra Itihāsa Begins
शरीरान्नि:सृतस्तस्य को भवानिति चाब्रवीत् । धर्म प्रह्माद मां विद्धि यत्रासौ द्विजसत्तम:
śarīrān niḥsṛtas tasya ko bhavān iti cābravīt | dharmaḥ prahmād māṁ viddhi yatrāsau dvijasattamaḥ ||
അവന്റെ ശരീരത്തിൽ നിന്ന് പുറപ്പെട്ട് പ്രഹ്ലാദൻ ചോദിച്ചു—“നീ ആരാണ്?” അവൻ പറഞ്ഞു—“പ്രഹ്ലാദാ, എന്നെ ധർമ്മം എന്നു അറിയുക; ഞാൻ ബ്രഹ്മസംബന്ധിയായവൻ. ആ ശ്രേഷ്ഠ ദ്വിജൻ എവിടെയുണ്ടോ, അവിടെയാണു ഞാൻ.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is presented not merely as an abstract rule but as a living moral authority that can reveal itself directly; righteousness is grounded in a higher cosmic source (Brahmā) and manifests where true brahmanical excellence and ethical inquiry are present.
A figure is described as emerging from someone’s body and is questioned about his identity; he then identifies himself explicitly as Dharma, originating from Brahmā, and indicates his presence in relation to a distinguished brāhmaṇa (dvijasattama).