Shloka 1
Khaḍgotpattiḥ (Origin and Dharmic Function of the Sword) | खड्गोत्पत्तिः
भीकम (2 अमान एकोनषष्टर्याधेकशततमो< ध्याय: अज्ञान और लोभको एक दूसरेका कारण बताकर दोनोंकी एकता करना और दोनोंको ही समस्त दोषोंका कारण सिद्ध करना युधिछिर उवाच अनर्थानामधिष्ठानमुक्तो लोभ: पितामह । अज्ञानमपि वै तात श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | anarthānām adhiṣṭhānam ukto lobhaḥ pitāmaha | ajñānam api vai tāta śrotum icchāmi tattvataḥ |
Yudhiṣṭhira thưa: “Thưa ông nội, người đã giảng rằng lòng tham là nền tảng nâng đỡ mọi tai ương. Nay, bậc đáng kính, con muốn được nghe về bản tính chân thật của vô minh nữa—để con hiểu nó đúng như thực.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames greed (lobha) as a foundational cause of harm and urges inquiry into ignorance (ajñāna) as an equally crucial root of wrongdoing. Ethical clarity requires understanding not only overt desire but also the underlying delusion that enables it.
In the Śānti Parva’s teaching dialogue, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Bhīṣma as ‘Grandfather’ and, after hearing about greed, requests a truthful explanation of ignorance—seeking deeper insight into the causes of human faults and suffering.