कपोती-विलापः स्वर्गसंयोगश्च
The Dove’s Lament and Celestial Reunion
मुनिर्वाच धर्मनिश्चयसंयुक्तां कामार्थसहितां कथाम् | शृणुष्वावहितो राजन् गदतो मे महाभुज
munir uvāca dharmaniścayasaṃyuktāṃ kāmārthasahitāṃ kathām | śṛṇuṣvāvahito rājan gadato me mahābhuja ||
ମୁନି କହିଲେ—ହେ ମହାବାହୁ ରାଜନ, ସାବଧାନ ହୋଇ ଶୁଣ। ଏହି କଥା ଧର୍ମ-ନିଶ୍ଚୟରେ ଯୁକ୍ତ ଏବଂ ଅର୍ଥ ଓ କାମ—ଏହି ପୁରୁଷାର୍ଥରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ।
भीष्म उवाच
The verse frames the forthcoming discourse as a balanced instruction: it clarifies dharma through firm discernment (niścaya) while also acknowledging artha and kāma as legitimate human aims when integrated under dharma.
A sage addresses a king and invites him to listen with full attention, introducing a story/discourse that will guide ethical judgment (dharma) alongside practical and human concerns (artha and kāma).