Shloka 54
जातिं देशं च सत्यं च माहात्म्यं भरतर्षभ | धर्म वृत्ति च विज्ञाय क्षत्रियाणां नराधिप
jātiṃ deśaṃ ca satyaṃ ca māhātmyaṃ bharatarṣabha | dharmavṛttiṃ ca vijñāya kṣatriyāṇāṃ narādhipa rājan bharataśreṣṭha ||
वैशंपायन म्हणाले— हे भरतश्रेष्ठ राजन्! महाभारत-कथा आरंभ झाल्यावर, प्रत्येक पर्वात क्षत्रियांची जात, देश, सत्यनिष्ठा, माहात्म्य तसेच धर्म व आचार-वृत्ती जाणून, ब्राह्मणांना जे जे अर्पण करणे योग्य आहे, त्याचे वर्णन आता मी करतो.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ethical narration as grounded in dharma: understanding a ruler’s lineage, land, truthfulness, and greatness, along with kṣatriya norms, guides proper conduct—here expressed as appropriate, parvan-specific offerings to brāhmaṇas.
Vaiśampāyana addresses the king and announces a forthcoming description: once the Mahābhārata story is underway, he will explain, for each parvan, what gifts should be offered to brāhmaṇas, based on the recognized qualities and dharma-conduct of kṣatriyas.