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 ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai banteng unggul dalam kalangan Bharata, wahai raja—yang terbaik dalam susur galur Bharata—setelah meneliti dan mengetahui keturunan serta tanah asal, kebenaran dan kebesaran, juga dharma dan adat laku para kṣatriya, kini akan aku huraikan apakah persembahan yang patut dipersembahkan kepada para brāhmaṇa pada setiap parvan apabila kisah Mahābhārata telah bermula.”
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.