Shloka 53
Śara-śayyā-sthita-bhīṣma-saṃvāda-prastāvaḥ
The Prelude to Questioning Bhīṣma on the Bed of Arrows
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्ाभारत शान्तिपर्वके अन्तर्गत राजधमनुशासनपर्वमें युधिष्ठिर आदिका भीष्मके समीप गमनविषयक तिरपनवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ
iti prakāraḥ śrīmahābhārate śāntiparvaṇi antargate rājadharmānuśāsanaparvaṇi yudhiṣṭhirādikānāṃ bhīṣmasamīpa-gamana-viṣayakaḥ tripañcāśattamo 'dhyāyaḥ pūrṇaḥ
Sa ganitong paraan, sa «Śrī Mahābhārata», sa loob ng «Śānti Parva»—lalo na sa bahaging «Rājadharmānuśāsana Parva» (pagtuturo hinggil sa dharma ng hari)—natapos ang ikalimampu’t ikatlong kabanata, na tumatalakay sa paglapit ni Yudhiṣṭhira at ng iba pa sa tabi ni Bhīṣma. Binibigyang-diin ng balangkas ng salaysay ang paglipat mula sa digmaan tungo sa makatarungang pamamahala: ang mga nagwagi ay lumalapit sa naghihingalong nakatatanda upang humingi ng gabay sa matuwid na paghahari at wastong asal.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
This line functions as a chapter-colophon highlighting the ethical pivot of the Śānti Parva: after the devastation of war, rightful rule must be grounded in rājadharma, learned through disciplined instruction from an elder authority (Bhīṣma).
The chapter concludes with the framing note that Yudhiṣṭhira and his companions have gone to Bhīṣma’s presence; the epic is transitioning into Bhīṣma’s teachings on governance and dharma within the Rājadharmānuśāsana section.