Shloka 1
Āśā-prabhava (आशाप्रभव) — On the Rise and Power of Hope/Expectation
Sumitra Itihāsa Begins
ऑपन-माजल छा जि: चतुर्विशर्त्याधेकशततमो< ध्याय: इन्द्र हि अप प्रह्नादकी कथा--शीलका प्रभाव
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | ime janā naraśreṣṭha praśaṃsanti sadā bhuvi | dharmasya śīlam evādau tato me saṃśayo mahān ||
ଯୁଧିଷ୍ଠିର କହିଲେ—ନରଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ପିତାମହ! ଏହି ପୃଥିବୀରେ ସମସ୍ତ ଲୋକ ସଦା ପ୍ରଥମେ ଧର୍ମର ଆଧାରରୂପ ଶୀଳକୁ ହିଁ ପ୍ରଶଂସା କରନ୍ତି; ତେଣୁ ଏ ବିଷୟରେ ମୋ ମନରେ ମହା ସନ୍ଦେହ ଜନ୍ମିଛି।
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames śīla (good conduct/character) as the commonly acknowledged starting point of dharma, prompting a philosophical inquiry into why conduct is treated as dharma’s foundation.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses an elder authority (“best of men”) and raises a doubt: since people praise conduct first when speaking of dharma, he seeks clarification about the true basis and hierarchy of virtues.