Shloka 1
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
ऑपन-माज बक। अपि्-छऋाज > यज्ञकर्ता पुरुष 'शम्या' नामक एक काठका डंडा खूब जोर लगाकर फेंकता है
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | śatāyur uktaḥ puruṣaḥ śatavīryaś ca jāyate | kasmān mriyante puruṣā bālā api pitāmaha ||
Yudhiṣṭhira disse: “Avô, as escrituras declaram que ao ser humano está destinado viver cem anos e que ele nasce dotado de vigor cem vezes maior. Contudo, vemos que muitos morrem ainda na infância. Por que razão isso acontece?”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharmic inquiry into the apparent gap between scriptural ideals (a full hundred-year life with vigor) and lived reality (premature death), preparing for an explanation in terms of causes such as karma, conduct, and other determining factors discussed by Bhīṣma.
In the Anuśāsana-parvan instruction sequence, Yudhiṣṭhira respectfully questions Bhīṣma about why many humans die in childhood despite scriptural statements about a hundred-year lifespan.