Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
प्रीतात्मा स तु तं वाक्यमिदमाह द्विजर्ष भम् । वाग्मी तदा द्विजश्रेष्ठो धर्म: पुरुषविग्रह:
prītātmā sa tu taṃ vākyam idam āha dvijarṣabham | vāgmī tadā dvijaśreṣṭho dharmaḥ puruṣavigrahaḥ ||
ତାପରେ ପ୍ରୀତଚିତ୍ତ ହୋଇ ସେ ଦ୍ୱିଜମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ, ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ବୃଷଭ ସଦୃଶ ସେହି ଅତିଥିଙ୍କୁ ଏହି ବଚନ କହିଲା। ସେ ସମୟରେ ବାଗ୍ମୀ ଦ୍ୱିଜଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ—ମାନବରୂପଧାରୀ ସାକ୍ଷାତ୍ ଧର୍ମ—ତାକୁ ସମ୍ବୋଧନ କଲେ।
श्षशुर उवाच
The verse frames ethical instruction by highlighting Dharma as an embodied, eloquent authority: true guidance is rooted in righteousness and conveyed through disciplined, meaningful speech.
A pleased speaker addresses an eminent Brahmin; the narration identifies the interlocutor as Dharma in human form, signaling that the forthcoming dialogue carries moral and religious weight.