Shloka 2
Āśā-prabhava (आशाप्रभव) — On the Rise and Power of Hope/Expectation
Sumitra Itihāsa Begins
यदि तच्छक्यमस्माभिर्ञातुं धर्मभूतां वर । श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत् सर्व यथैतदुपलभ्यते,धर्मात्माओंमें श्रेष्ठ! यदि मै उसे जान सकूँ तो जिस प्रकार शीलकी उपलब्धि होती है, वह सब सुनना चाहता हूँ
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | yadi tac chakyam asmābhir jñātuṁ dharmabhūtāṁ vara | śrotum icchāmi tat sarvaṁ yathaitad upalabhyate ||
یُدھِشٹھِر نے کہا—اے اہلِ دھرم میں برتر! اگر میرے لیے اُس حقیقت کو جاننا ممکن ہو جو فی الحقیقت دھرم کی فطرت رکھتی ہے، تو میں سب کچھ سننا چاہتا ہوں کہ یہ شیل (حُسنِ سلوک/نیک چلن) کس طرح سمجھا اور حاصل کیا جاتا ہے۔
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames dharma as something that must be both understood and practically realized; Yudhiṣṭhira requests a complete explanation of the means by which righteous conduct (śīla/ācāra implied) is apprehended and attained.
In the instruction-heavy Śānti Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira, seeking guidance after the war, addresses a revered righteous authority and asks to hear in full how true dharma is known and how right conduct is obtained.