Shloka 1
Gārhasthya-dharma: Vāsudeva–Pṛthivī-saṃvāda
Householder Duties and Daily Offerings
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका १७५६ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल १९७३ *लोक हैं) शस्जआ तल (2) आअसमनन- सप्तनवतितमो< ध्याय: गृहस्थधर्म
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |
Gārhasthyaṁ dharmam akhilaṁ prabrūhi bharatarṣabha |
Ṛddhim āpnoti kiṁ kṛtvā manuṣya iha pārthiva ||
یُدھشٹھِر نے کہا—اے بھرتوں میں شیر! مجھے گِرہستھ آشرم کے تمام دھرم پوری طرح بتائیے۔ اے بادشاہ! انسان اس دنیا میں کون سے اعمال کر کے خوشحالی پاتا ہے؟
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharma-inquiry: Yudhiṣṭhira seeks a complete account of gṛhastha-dharma and asks which concrete actions lead to ṛddhi (prosperity) in this life, implying that prosperity should be pursued through righteous, socially sustaining duties rather than mere self-interest.
At the opening of the chapter, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses an honored royal interlocutor (“bharatarṣabha”, “pārthiva”) and initiates a teaching dialogue by requesting instruction on the duties of householders and the deeds that bring worldly well-being.