Shloka 1
Brāhmaṇa-mahattva and Atithi-Dharma
Brahmagītā: Praise of Brāhmaṇas and norms of honor
अत-#-#क+ द्वात्रिशोड्ध्याय: राजर्षि वृषदर्भ (या उशीनर)-के द्वारा शरणागत कपोतकी रक्षा तथा उस पुण्यके प्रभावसे अक्षयलोककी प्राप्ति युधिछिर उवाच पितामह महाप्राज्ञ सर्वशास्त्रविशारद । त्वत्तो5हं श्रोतुमिच्छामि धर्म भरतसत्तम
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca—Pitāmaha mahāprājña sarvaśāstraviśārada | tvatto ’haṃ śrotum icchāmi dharmaṃ Bharatasattama ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Wahai Datuk (Pitāmaha), engkau amat bijaksana dan mahir dalam segala śāstra. Oleh itu, wahai yang terbaik dalam keturunan Bharata, daripada engkaulah aku ingin mendengar ajaran tentang dharma.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma should be learned from a qualified authority—one who is wise and grounded in śāstra. Yudhiṣṭhira models humility and the proper approach to ethical inquiry by seeking guidance from Bhīṣma.
At the start of the chapter, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Bhīṣma (the grandsire) and requests a discourse on dharma, setting up Bhīṣma’s ensuing instruction.