Shloka 1
Gārhasthya-dharma: Vāsudeva–Pṛthivī-saṃvāda
Householder Duties and Daily Offerings
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका १७५६ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल १९७३ *लोक हैं) शस्जआ तल (2) आअसमनन- सप्तनवतितमो< ध्याय: गृहस्थधर्म
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |
Gārhasthyaṁ dharmam akhilaṁ prabrūhi bharatarṣabha |
Ṛddhim āpnoti kiṁ kṛtvā manuṣya iha pārthiva ||
యుధిష్ఠిరుడు పలికెను—ఓ భరతర్షభా! గృహస్థాశ్రమ ధర్మమంతటినీ నాకు వివరించుము. ఓ పార్థివా! మనిషి ఈ లోకంలో ఏ కార్యాలు చేసి సమృద్ధిని పొందును?
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharma-inquiry: Yudhiṣṭhira seeks a complete account of gṛhastha-dharma and asks which concrete actions lead to ṛddhi (prosperity) in this life, implying that prosperity should be pursued through righteous, socially sustaining duties rather than mere self-interest.
At the opening of the chapter, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses an honored royal interlocutor (“bharatarṣabha”, “pārthiva”) and initiates a teaching dialogue by requesting instruction on the duties of householders and the deeds that bring worldly well-being.