Shloka 1
Nakula’s Declaration and the Uñchavṛtti Brāhmaṇa’s Superior Merit (Āśvamedhika Parva, Adhyāya 92)
अपन का छा | अप---#क्र+ द्विनवतितमो< ध्याय: महर्षि अगस्त्यके यज्ञकी कथा जनमेजय उवाच धर्मागतेन त्यागेन भगवन् स्वर्गमस्ति चेत् । एतनमे सर्वमाचक्ष्व कुशलो हासि भाषितुम्
Janamejaya uvāca | dharmāgatena tyāgena bhagavan svargam asti cet | etan me sarvam ācakṣva kuśalo ’si bhāṣitum ||
Janamejaya thưa: “Bạch đấng tôn kính, nếu cõi trời đạt được nhờ sự bố thí—xả bỏ của cải đã thu được bằng con đường dharma—thì xin hãy giảng giải cho ta toàn bộ điều ấy một cách minh bạch, vì ngài khéo léo trong việc thuyết giảng.”
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical principle for discussion: that giving (tyāga/dāna) of wealth acquired righteously (dharmāgata) is a meritorious act believed to lead to svarga, and it invites a clear doctrinal explanation from an authoritative teacher.
King Janamejaya addresses a revered sage and requests a full, lucid account of how righteous acquisition and charitable giving relate to attaining heaven, setting up the ensuing discourse (in this chapter’s context, connected with a sacrificial narrative involving sages such as Agastya).