Shloka 4
वनप्रस्थानम् (Departure for the Forest) — Āraṇyaka-parva, Adhyāya 24
एवमुक्ते प्रत्युवाच धर्मराजं धनंजय: । गुरुवन्मानवगुरुं मानयित्वा मनस्विनम्,धर्मराजके ऐसा कहनेपर अर्जुनने उन मनस्वी मानवगुरु युधिष्ठिरका गुरुतुल्य सम्मान करके उनसे इस प्रकार कहा
evam ukte pratyuvāca dharmarājaṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ | guruvan mānavaguruṃ mānayitvā manasvinam ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana thưa: Khi Pháp vương (Yudhiṣṭhira) nói như vậy, Dhanaṃjaya (Arjuna) liền đáp lời. Trước hết chàng kính cẩn tôn vinh bậc dẫn dắt loài người ấy như tôn kính một vị thầy, rồi mới thưa lại cùng Pháp vương.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharmic communication: even in disagreement or counsel, one should respond with reverence toward moral authority and elders. Ethical speech begins with honoring the person addressed, especially when they function as a ‘guru’ in wisdom and conduct.
After Yudhiṣṭhira has spoken, Arjuna prepares to answer. The narrator emphasizes Arjuna’s posture: he first shows guru-like respect to the noble-minded Dharmarāja and then replies, signaling that the ensuing dialogue is framed by discipline, humility, and righteous decorum.