Shloka 1
Adhyāya 55 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Hesitation and Bhīṣma’s Authorization of Inquiry
Rājadharma Prelude
/ अपन का छा | अफड-एक्रा् पञ्चपज्चाशत्तमो< ध्याय: भीष्मका युधिष्ठटिरके गुणकथनपूर्वक उनको प्रश्न करनेका आदेश देना
Vaiśampāyana uvāca | athābravīn mahātejā vākyam kauravanandanaḥ | hanta dharmān pravakṣyāmi dṛḍhe vā imanasi mama ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Pagkaraan nito, ang makapangyarihan, ang ligaya ng angkan ng Kuru, ay nagsalita ng ganito: “Halina—ngayon ay ipaliliwanag ko ang mga simulain ng dharma, sapagkat matatag ang aking pasya sa bagay na ito.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse signals the formal beginning of a dharma-exposition: the speaker declares a firm resolve to teach multiple dimensions of righteousness—duty, ethical conduct, and right governance—setting an authoritative, instructional tone.
In the Śānti-parvan frame, after the war, instruction is sought to restore moral order and clarity. The narrator introduces the moment when the revered Kuru elder (contextually Bhīṣma) begins speaking, announcing that he will now expound dharma with steadfast determination.