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Shloka 4

कपिल–स्यूमरश्मि संवादः

Kapila and Syūmaraśmi on Renunciation, Householder Support, and Epistemic Authority

भीष्म उवाच एवमुक्तस्तुलाधारो ब्राह्मणेन यशस्विना । उवाच धर्मसूक्ष्माणि वैश्यो धर्मार्थतत्त्ववित्‌,भीष्मजी कहते हैं--राजन्‌! यशस्वी ब्राह्मण जाजलिके इस प्रकार पूछनेपर धर्म और अर्थके तत्त्वको जाननेवाले तुलाधार वैश्यने उन्हें धर्म-सम्बन्धी सूक्ष्म बातोंको इस तरह बताना आरम्भ किया

bhīṣma uvāca evam uktas tulādhāro brāhmaṇena yaśasvinā | uvāca dharmasūkṣmāṇi vaiśyo dharmārthatattvavit ||

ภีษมะกล่าวว่า “ครั้นพราหมณ์ผู้มีเกียรติถามดังนั้น ตุลาธาร—ไวศยะผู้รู้แก่นแท้แห่งธรรมะและอรรถะ—ก็เริ่มอธิบายถ้อยความอันละเอียดลึกซึ้งแห่งความชอบธรรม”

भीष्मःBhishma
भीष्मः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootभीष्म
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
उवाचsaid/spoke
उवाच:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPerfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
एवम्thus
एवम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवम्
उक्तःhaving been addressed/said to
उक्तः:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
Formkta (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
तुलाधारःTuladhara (the balance-holder; name)
तुलाधारः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootतुलाधार
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
ब्राह्मणेनby the Brahmin
ब्राह्मणेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
यशस्विनाfamous, illustrious
यशस्विना:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootयशस्विन्
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
उवाचsaid
उवाच:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPerfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
धर्मसूक्ष्माणिsubtle points of dharma
धर्मसूक्ष्माणि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधर्मसूक्ष्म
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
वैश्यःthe Vaishya
वैश्यः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवैश्य
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
धर्मार्थतत्त्ववित्knower of the truth of dharma and artha
धर्मार्थतत्त्ववित्:
TypeNoun
Rootधर्मार्थतत्त्ववित्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
T
Tuladhara
J
Jajali (the Brahmin interlocutor)

Educational Q&A

The verse frames Tulādhāra as a reliable ethical authority: he is presented as one who knows the subtle nuances of dharma and also understands artha (practical welfare). The core point is that true moral instruction requires discernment of fine distinctions, not merely rigid rule-following, and that wisdom can reside beyond one’s social category.

Bhishma narrates that the Brahmin Jājali has questioned Tulādhāra. In response, Tulādhāra begins his instruction, setting the stage for a detailed exposition on nuanced dharma.