Tilā-Dāna, Dīpa-Dāna, and Nitya-Jalapradāna
Yama–Brāhmaṇa Saṃvāda) | तिलदान-दीपदान-नित्यजलप्रदान (यम-ब्राह्मण संवाद
द्वारकामनुसम्प्राप्तं नारद देवदर्शनम् । पप्रच्छेदं वच: प्रश्न॑ देवकी धर्मदर्शनम्,एक समयकी बात है, धर्मदर्शी देवर्षि नारदजी द्वारकामें आये थे। उस समय वहाँ देवकी देवीने उनके सामने यही प्रश्न उपस्थित किया
Dvārakām anusamprāptaṃ Nāradaṃ devadarśanam | papracchedam vacaḥ praśnaṃ Devakī dharmadarśanam ||
द्वारकामनुसम्प्राप्तं नारदं देवदर्शनम्। पप्रच्छेदं वचः प्रश्नं देवकी धर्मदर्शनम्॥
भीष्म उवाच
The verse frames dharma as something to be sought through respectful inquiry: even a virtuous person like Devaki turns to a realized sage (Narada) for clarification, emphasizing humility and the value of authoritative guidance in ethical matters.
Narada arrives in Dvaraka, and Devaki approaches him and asks a specific question about dharma; Bhishma introduces this scene as the setting for the instruction that follows.