Shloka 9
राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)
आगमगमश्न परस्त्वत्त: सर्वेषां न: परंतप । भवन्तं हि परं बुद्धौ वासुदेवो5भिमन्यते
āgamāgamaś ca parastvattāḥ sarveṣāṃ naḥ parantapa | bhavantaṃ hi paraṃ buddhau vāsudevo 'bhimanyate, parantapa pitāmaha ||
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “O tagasunog ng mga kaaway, ang pinakamataas na pagkaunawa sa mga śāstra at sa kanilang kinikilalang mga tradisyon ay maaari lamang naming makamtan mula sa iyo. Sapagkat maging si Vāsudeva ay itinuturing kang pinakapanguna sa karunungan, O Pitāmaha.”
युधिषछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
True understanding of dharma is best received through a qualified elder-teacher grounded in śāstra and tradition; even the greatest recognize and honor such wisdom, so the seeker should approach with humility and readiness to learn.
After the war, Yudhiṣṭhira seeks guidance on dharma and governance. He turns to the dying Bhīṣma as the foremost authority on righteous conduct, noting that even Kṛṣṇa esteems Bhīṣma’s intellect as supreme, thereby legitimizing Bhīṣma as the teacher for the ensuing instruction.