Shloka 1
दीर्घदर्शी–दीर्घसूत्र–संप्रतिपत्तिमान् आख्यानम्
The Parable of Foresight, Procrastination, and Presence of Mind
अप ह< बक। हक २ >> चतुस्त्रिंशर्दाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: बलकी महत्ता और पापसे छूटनेका प्रायद्षित्त भीष्म उवाच अत्र धर्मानुवचनं कीर्तयन्ति पुराविद: । प्रत्यक्षावेव धर्मार्थो क्षत्रियस्य विजानत:
Bhīṣma uvāca: atra dharmānuvacanaṃ kīrtayanti purāvidaḥ | pratyakṣāv eva dharmārtho kṣatriyasya vijānataḥ ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “O Hari, ang mga pantas na nakaaalam ng mga salaysay ng sinaunang panahon ay nagbabanggit ng aral tungkol sa dharma sa bagay na ito nang ganito: para sa isang kshatriyang may pag-unawa, ang dharma at artha ang dalawang katotohanang tuwirang nasa harap niya—mga agarang tungkulin at layuning dapat kilalanin at gampanan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma frames kshatriya ethics as grounded in what is immediately evident in governance and life: dharma (right duty/justice) and artha (welfare, power, and material-political aims). A ruler must recognize both as direct, practical realities rather than abstract ideals alone.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to the king, Bhishma introduces an authoritative traditional teaching, citing ‘knowers of ancient lore,’ and begins a discourse that will explain dharma in this context—especially as it applies to a discerning warrior-king.