Shloka 5
Parāśara’s Counsel on बुद्धि (Discernment), Karma-Consequences, and Avoidance of Pāpānubandha Actions
एतन्मे संशयं ब्रूहि पृच्छते भरतर्षभ । वृत्रस्तु राजशार्दूल यथा शक्रेण निर्जित:,भरतभूषण! नृपश्रेष्ठ! मैं यह बात आपसे पूछता हूँ, आप मेरे इस संशयका समाधान कीजिये। इन्द्रने वृत्रासुरको कैसे परास्त किया?
etan me saṁśayaṁ brūhi pṛcchate bharatarṣabha | vṛtras tu rājaśārdūla yathā śakreṇa nirjitaḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Wahai yang termulia dalam kalangan Bharata, jelaskanlah keraguanku ini ketika aku bertanya. Wahai harimau di antara raja-raja—bagaimanakah Vṛtra ditundukkan dan ditewaskan oleh Śakra (Indra)?”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models dhārmic inquiry: a ruler should not act on uncertainty but seek clarification from a worthy authority, especially regarding the moral and causal dimensions behind victory and defeat.
Yudhiṣṭhira respectfully addresses his interlocutor and asks for an explanation of the traditional account of how Indra (Śakra) defeated Vṛtra, setting up a discourse on the causes and ethics of that victory.