Dharmopadeśa-Śānti: Rules of Impurity, Expiations, and Ancestor Rites
धर्मराज उवाच । श्रुतिस्मृत्युदितं धर्मं वर्णानामनुपूर्वशः । प्रब्रवीमि नृपश्रेष्ट तं श्रृणुष्व समाहितः ॥ १ ॥
dharmarāja uvāca | śrutismṛtyuditaṃ dharmaṃ varṇānāmanupūrvaśaḥ | prabravīmi nṛpaśreṣṭa taṃ śrṛṇuṣva samāhitaḥ || 1 ||
Dharmarāja bersabda: “Wahai raja yang terbaik, kini akan aku jelaskan menurut tertibnya dharma bagi golongan varṇa sebagaimana diajarkan dalam Śruti dan Smṛti. Dengarlah dengan minda yang terhimpun dan tenang.”
Dharmarāja
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
It establishes dharma as grounded in Śruti and Smṛti and frames the teaching as an ordered, disciplined instruction—requiring mental composure to understand and apply righteous duty.
While not explicitly teaching bhakti here, it sets the dharmic foundation that supports devotional life—right conduct and attentive listening are presented as prerequisites for higher spiritual practice.
The verse emphasizes scriptural authority and orderly exposition (anupūrvaśaḥ), aligning with the Vedāṅga spirit of systematic learning—especially the disciplined study-method implied by careful listening and structured teaching.