Shloka 1
निर्वेदोपदेशः (Nirveda-Upadeśa) — Maṅki’s Dispassion and the Limits of Wealth-Seeking
भीष्मजी कहते हैं--राजन्! पक्षीकी वह मधुर वाणी सुनकर गौतमको बड़ा आश्चर्य हुआ। वह कौतूहलपूर्ण दृष्टिसे राजधर्माकी ओर देखने लगा
bhīṣma uvāca—rājan! pakṣiṇaḥ sā madhurā vāṇī śrutvā gautamaḥ mahad āścaryam avāpa. sa kautūhalapūrṇayā dṛśā rājadharmān prati avalokitum ārabdhavān.
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai Raja! Mendengar tutur kata burung itu yang manis, Gautama amat terperanjat. Dengan pandangan penuh ingin tahu, dia mula menoleh kepada Rājadharma—dharma kewajipan raja—untuk memahaminya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames rājadharma as a subject worthy of careful inquiry: even a sage like Gautama, upon encountering unexpected wisdom (from a bird), turns with curiosity toward the ethical principles of governance, implying that true royal duty can be illuminated from surprising sources and must be approached with openness.
Bhishma narrates to the king that Gautama hears a bird speak sweetly and is astonished; this wonder prompts Gautama to focus his attention on understanding rājadharma, setting up a didactic discussion on the duties and ethics of kingship.