Shloka 1
Dvaipāyana–Kīṭa Saṃvāda: Karmic Memory, Fear of Death, and Embodied Pleasure
भीकम (2 अमान चतुर्दशाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: हिंसा और मांसभक्षणकी घोर निन्दा वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो युधिछिरो राजा शरतल्पे पितामहम् | पुनरेव महातेजा: पप्रच्छ वदतां वर:
Vaiśampāyana uvāca | tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā śaratālpe pitāmaham | punar eva mahātejāḥ papraccha vadatāṃ varaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: Então o rei Yudhiṣṭhira voltou a interrogar o avô Bhīṣma, que jazia sobre o leito de flechas. O rei radiante—o primeiro entre os oradores—buscou nova instrução, preparando o terreno para uma severa condenação ética da violência e do comer carne.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a renewed inquiry into dharma: Yudhiṣṭhira seeks authoritative guidance from Bhīṣma, and the chapter’s ethical thrust (as indicated by the heading) moves toward a strong denunciation of violence and flesh-eating, grounding moral conduct in restraint and compassion.
After the war, Bhīṣma lies on the śaratālpa and instructs Yudhiṣṭhira. Here, Vaiśampāyana narrates that Yudhiṣṭhira again approaches Bhīṣma with questions, initiating the next segment of counsel.