Shloka 3
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 97: Satyavatī’s appeal and Bhīṣma’s reaffirmation of satya
ततः कदाचिद् ब्रह्माणमुपासांचक्रिरे सुरा: । तत्र राजर्षयो ह्ासन् स च राजा महाभिष:,तदनन्तर एक समय सब देवता ब्रह्माजीकी सेवामें उनके समीप बैठे हुए थे। वहाँ बहुत-से राजर्षि तथा पूर्वोक्त राजा महाभिष भी उपस्थित थे
tataḥ kadācid brahmāṇam upāsāṃ cakrire surāḥ | tatra rājarṣayo hāsan sa ca rājā mahābhiṣaḥ ||
Bấy giờ, có một lần, chư thiên tụ hội để hầu cận Phạm Thiên (Brahmā) trong lòng tôn kính. Tại đó có nhiều bậc vương tiên hiện diện, và vua Mahābhiṣa cũng ở trong hội chúng trang nghiêm ấy.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse establishes a dharmic setting: when gods and royal sages assemble before Brahmā, the narrative implies heightened moral accountability—those near sacred authority are expected to embody restraint, humility, and right conduct.
Vaiśampāyana describes a particular occasion when the gods came to serve Brahmā. In that gathering were many royal sages, and King Mahābhiṣa was also present, setting the stage for events involving him.