Shloka 4
Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
भीष्म उवाच शृणुष्व राजन यद् वृत्तं ब्रह्मदत्तनिवेशने । पूजन्या सह संवादं ब्रह्मुदत्तस्य भूपते:
bhīṣma uvāca śṛṇuṣva rājan yad vṛttaṃ brahmadattaniveśane | pūjanyā saha saṃvādaṃ brahmadattasya bhūpate ||
Bhīṣma nói: “Hỡi Đại vương, hãy nghe điều đã xảy ra trong dinh thất của Brahmadatta. Ta sẽ thuật lại, hỡi bậc trị vì, cuộc đối thoại mà Brahmadatta đã có với một bậc phụ nữ đáng tôn kính.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames dharma-instruction through attentive listening and respectful dialogue: a king is urged to learn from an exemplary conversation, implying that ethical governance is strengthened by honoring worthy counsel and reflecting on instructive narratives.
Bhishma begins introducing an illustrative episode: he asks the king to hear what occurred at Brahmadatta’s residence and announces that he will recount Brahmadatta’s dialogue with a revered woman, setting up a didactic story within the Shanti Parva discourse.