Shloka 1
राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)
अत-#-#क्त षट्पज्चाशत्तमो<5 ध्याय: युधिष्ठटिरके पूछनेपर भीष्मके द्वारा राजधर्मका वर्णन
vaiśampāyana uvāca | praṇipatya hṛṣīkeśam abhivādya pitāmaham | anumānya gurūn sarvān paryapṛcchad yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Matapos yumuk at magbigay-galang kay Hṛṣīkeśa (Kṛṣṇa) at magpugay sa Matandang Ama na si Bhīṣma, si Yudhiṣṭhira—pagkaraang makuha ang pagsang-ayon ng lahat ng matatanda at mga guro roon—ay saka naglahad ng kanyang tanong. Itinatanghal ng tagpong ito ang darating na aral tungkol sa rājadharma bilang isang disiplinadong pagtatanong na may paggalang, may pahintulot, at may bigat na etikal.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Before seeking guidance on statecraft and dharma, the king must approach knowledge with humility, proper respect to spiritual and moral authorities, and with the community of elders’ consent—signaling that righteous rule begins with disciplined inquiry and reverence.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Yudhiṣṭhira bows to Kṛṣṇa and Bhīṣma, receives the approval of the assembled elders, and then formally asks his question—setting the stage for Bhīṣma’s discourse on rajadharma in the Shānti Parva.