Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 15
Viṣṇu-sahasranāma—Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Recitation (विष्णोर्नामसहस्रम्)
यमराजने कहा--देवताओ और महर्षियो! मैंने आपलोगोंके मुखसे दिव्य एवं मनोरम कथा सुनी है, अब आपलोग चित्रगुप्तका तथा मेरा भी प्रिय भाषण सुनिये ।।
yamāraja uvāca—devatāḥ maharṣayaś ca! mayā yuṣmākaṁ mukhataḥ divyāṁ manoramāṁ ca kathāṁ śrutā; idānīṁ yuṣmābhiḥ citraguptasya mama ca priyaṁ bhāṣaṇaṁ śrūyatām. rahasyaṁ dharmasaṁyuktaṁ śakyaṁ śrotuṁ maharṣibhiḥ; śraddadhānena martyena ātmano hitam icchatā api etat śravaṇīyam.
Wika ni Yama: “O mga diyos at mga dakilang rishi! Mula sa inyong sariling mga labi ay narinig ko ang isang salaysay na banal at kaaya-aya. Ngayon, pakinggan ninyo ang mga salitang mahal kapwa kay Citragupta at sa akin. Ito ay isang lihim na aral na kaugnay ng dharma—nararapat pakinggan ng mga dakilang pantas; at dapat ding pakinggan ng isang mortal na may pananampalataya at naghahangad ng tunay na kapakanan ng sarili.”
यम उवाच
Educational Q&A
That a dharma-grounded ‘secret’ instruction is not merely for exalted sages; any faithful person who genuinely seeks their own welfare should listen to and internalize it—implying that ethical truth is universally relevant when approached with śraddhā.
Yama addresses the assembled gods and great seers, acknowledging he has heard their divine account, and then announces that he will deliver a discourse dear to himself and Citragupta—introducing an authoritative moral teaching connected with dharma.