Shloka 4
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 181 — Svayaṃvara Aftermath: Arjuna–Karna Exchange and Bhīma–Śalya Contest
गन्धर्व उवाच धनंजय निबोधेदं यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि । वसिष्ठ प्रति दुर्धर्ष तथा मित्रसहं नृपम्,गन्धर्वने कहा--दुर्धर्ष वीर धनंजय! आप महर्षि वसिष्ठ तथा राजा मित्रसहके विषयमें जो कुछ मुझसे पूछ रहे हैं, उसका समाधान सुनिये
gandharva uvāca: dhanañjaya nibodhedaṃ yan māṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi | vasiṣṭhaṃ prati durdharṣa tathā mitrasahaṃ nṛpam ||
ਗੰਧਰਵ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਹੇ ਧਨੰਜਯ! ਜੋ ਤੂੰ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਪੁੱਛਦਾ ਹੈਂ, ਉਹ ਧਿਆਨ ਨਾਲ ਸੁਣ। ਹੇ ਦੁರ್ಧਰਸ਼ ਵੀਰ! ਰਿਸ਼ੀ ਵਸ਼ਿਸ਼ਠ ਅਤੇ ਰਾਜਾ ਮਿਤ੍ਰਸਹ ਦੇ ਵਿਸ਼ੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਮੈਂ ਯਥਾਵਤ ਉੱਤਰ ਦਿਆਂਗਾ।
गन्धर्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethic of attentive inquiry and responsible instruction: a worthy question should be met with a clear, focused answer, especially when it concerns revered sages and the conduct of kings.
A Gandharva responds to Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), acknowledging his question and introducing an explanation about the sage Vasiṣṭha and King Mitrasaha, signaling the start of a related account or clarification.