Shloka 60
Dharma-śaṅkā-nivāraṇa: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Response on Karma-Phala and Trust in Dharma
ब्राह्म॒णं मे पिता पूर्व वासयामास पण्डितम् । सो<पि सर्वामिमां प्राह पित्रे मे भरतर्षभ,भरतमश्रेष्ठ! पूर्वकालमें मेरे पिताजीने अपने घरपर एक दविद्दान् ब्राह्मणको ठहराया था। उन्होंने ही पिताजीसे बृहस्पतिजीकी बतायी हुई इस सम्पूर्ण नीतिका प्रतिपादन किया था और मेरे भाइयोंको भी इसीकी शिक्षा दी थी। उस समय अपने भाइयोंके निकट रहकर घरमें ही मैंने भी उस नीतिको सुना था
brāhmaṇaṃ me pitā pūrvaṃ vāsayāmāsa paṇḍitam | so 'pi sarvām imāṃ prāha pitre me bharatarṣabha |
Wika ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “O pinakadakila sa angkan ng mga Bhārata! Noong una, pinatuloy ng aking ama sa aming tahanan ang isang marunong na Brāhmaṇa. Siya ang naglahad sa aking ama ng buong aral ng wastong asal—na sinasabing itinuro ni Bṛhaspati—at itinuro rin niya ito sa aking mga kapatid. Sa panahong iyon, habang nasa bahay at malapit sa aking mga kapatid, narinig ko rin ang payong iyon.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes the authoritative transmission of nīti (ethical and practical counsel): a learned Brāhmaṇa, drawing on Bṛhaspati’s teaching, instructed the king and the princes, showing that dharma and good governance are learned through disciplined listening to qualified teachers.
Yudhiṣṭhira explains the provenance of the counsel he is recounting: his father once hosted a wise Brāhmaṇa who taught a complete body of ethical instruction to Pāṇḍu and the brothers; Yudhiṣṭhira heard it as well while living with them at home.