Shloka 1
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 181 — Svayaṃvara Aftermath: Arjuna–Karna Exchange and Bhīma–Śalya Contest
इस प्रकार श्रीमहाभारत आदिपरव्वके अन्तर्गत चैत्ररथपर्वमें औवॉपाख्यानविषयक एक सौ अस्सीवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ ॥/ १८० ॥। ऑपनआक्रात [छ। अंक एकाशीरत्याधिकशततमो< ध्याय: राजा कल्माषपादको ब्राह्मणी आंगिरसीका शाप अजुन उवाच राज्ञा कल्माषपादेन गुरी ब्रह्मविदां वरे । कारणं कि पुरस्कृत्य भार्या वै संनियोजिता,अर्जुनने पूछा--गन्धर्वराज! किस कारणको सामने रखकर राजा कल्माषपादने ब्रह्मवेत्ताओंमें श्रेष्ठ गुरु वसिष्ठजीके साथ अपनी पत्नीका नियोग कराया था?
arjuna uvāca | rājñā kalmāṣapādena guro brahmavidāṃ vare | kāraṇaṃ kiṃ puraskṛtya bhāryā vai saṃniyojitā ||
ଅର୍ଜୁନ କହିଲେ—ହେ ଗନ୍ଧର୍ବରାଜ! କେଉଁ କାରଣକୁ ଆଗରେ ରଖି ରାଜା କଲ୍ମାଷପାଦ ବ୍ରହ୍ମବିଦ୍ୟାଜ୍ଞମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଗୁରୁ ବଶିଷ୍ଠଙ୍କ ସହ ନିଜ ପତ୍ନୀଙ୍କ ନିୟୋଗ କରାଇଥିଲେ?
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharma in exceptional social practices: niyoga is treated not as personal desire but as a duty-bound, reasoned act aimed at preserving lineage and social order under the guidance of a spiritually authoritative sage.
Arjuna asks the Gandharva-king to explain the motive behind King Kalmāṣapāda’s decision to have his wife undertake niyoga with the sage-teacher Vasiṣṭha, setting up the backstory and ethical rationale for that episode.