निर्वेदोपदेशः (Nirveda-Upadeśa) — Maṅki’s Dispassion and the Limits of Wealth-Seeking
अथोपविष्टं शयने गौतमं धर्मराट् तदा । पप्रच्छ काश्यपो वाग्मी किमागमनकारणम्,धर्मराज! जब गौतम उस बिछौनेपर बैठा तब बात-चीतमें कुशल कश्यपकुमारने पूछा --“ब्रह्मम! आप इधर किसलिये आये हैं?
athopaviṣṭaṃ śayane gautamaṃ dharmarāṭ tadā | papraccha kāśyapo vāgmī kimāgamanakāraṇam, dharmarāja ||
اے دھرم راج! جب گوتم اُس شَیَن پر بیٹھ گیا تو خوش گفتار کاشیپ نے پوچھا—“اے برہمن! آپ یہاں کس سبب سے تشریف لائے ہیں؟”
भीष्म उवाच
The verse highlights that dharma begins with examining intention: before judging an act, one asks its kāraṇa (motive). Respectful questioning and clarity of purpose are presented as ethical foundations.
Gautama is seated on a couch, and the eloquent sage Kāśyapa addresses the righteous king (Dharmarāja), asking why he has come—setting up a dialogue where the reason for the visit will guide the ensuing instruction.