Chapter 2: Sudarśana Upākhyāna — Atithi-Dharma and the Conquest of Mṛtyu
Gṛhastha-Vrata
दशमस्तस्य पुत्रस्तु दशाश्वो नाम भारत | माहिष्मत्यामभूद् राजा धर्मात्मा सत्यविक्रम:,भारत! उनमेंसे दसवें पुत्रका नाम दशाश्व था जो माहिष्मतीपुरीमें राज्य करता था। वह बड़ा ही धर्मात्मा और सत्यपराक्रमी था
daśamas tasya putras tu daśāśvo nāma bhārata | māhiṣmatyām abhūd rājā dharmātmā satyavikramaḥ ||
Sinabi ni Bhīṣma: “O Bharata, ang ikasampung anak niya ay nagngangalang Daśāśva. Naging hari siya sa Māhiṣmatī, isang pinunong nakatalaga sa dharma at matapang na matatag sa katotohanan.”
भीष्म उवाच
The verse upholds an ideal of kingship: true sovereignty is measured not merely by power or lineage, but by a ruler’s commitment to dharma and truth—courage expressed as ethical steadfastness (satyavikrama).
Bhīṣma continues a genealogical account, identifying the tenth son—Daśāśva—stating that he ruled from Māhiṣmatī and characterizing him as righteous and truth-valorized.