Shloka 23
राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)
मनुना चैव राजेन्द्र गीतौ श्लोकौ महात्मना । धर्मेषु स्वेषु कौरव्य हृदि तौ कर्तुमहसि
bhīṣma uvāca | manunā caiva rājendra gītau ślokau mahātmanā | dharmeṣu sveṣu kauravya hṛdi tau kartum arhasi |
Wika ni Bhishma: “O pinakamainam sa mga hari! Inawit ng dakilang-loob na si Manu ang dalawang taludtod tungkol sa sariling mga tungkulin. O Kaurava, itanim mo sa iyong puso ang dalawang iyon—gawin mo silang panloob na gabay sa mga usapin ng dharma.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma urges the king to internalize authoritative guidance on svadharma—one’s own rightful duties—by holding Manu’s two dharma-verses in the heart as a constant ethical compass.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to Yudhishthira after the war, Bhishma continues his discourse on righteous conduct and governance, introducing (or preparing to cite) two verses attributed to Manu and advising the king to adopt them inwardly.