Shloka 4
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 113 — Maryādā-sthāpana (Śvetaketu’s Boundary) and the Niyoga Deliberation of Pāṇḍu and Kuntī
दत्त्वा तस्यासन शुभ्र॑ पाद्यमर्घ्य तथैव च | मधुपर्क च महेश: पप्रच्छागमने<र्थिताम्,वहाँ उनके लिये सुन्दर आसन, पाद्य, अर्घ्य तथा मधुपर्क अर्पण करके मद्रराजने भीष्मजीसे उनके आगमनका प्रयोजन पूछा
dattvā tasyāsanaṁ śubhraṁ pādyam arghyaṁ tathaiva ca | madhuparkaṁ ca mahārājaḥ papracchāgamane 'rthitām ||
Tendo-lhe oferecido um assento esplêndido, juntamente com a água para lavar os pés (pādya), a oferenda de honra (arghya) e a mistura cerimonial de mel (madhuparka), o rei então perguntou a Bhīṣma com que propósito viera.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores dharmic hospitality: an honoured guest is first received with proper offerings (seat, pādya, arghya, madhuparka), and only then is the purpose of the visit respectfully asked. Ethical communication is framed by reverence and correct conduct.
A king receives Bhīṣma formally, offering the traditional guest-rites, and then inquires about the reason for Bhīṣma’s arrival—signalling that the visit concerns an important matter, approached through proper royal protocol.