Shloka 2
अहिंसा-आत्मौपम्य-उपदेशः | Instruction on Ahiṃsā and Self-Comparison Ethics
वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! महाज्ञानी युधिष्ठिरने बाणशय्यापर सोये हुए कुरुकुलके वृद्ध पितामह भीष्मजीके निकट जाकर इस प्रकार प्रश्न किया ।।
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | aṅgānāṃ rūpa-saubhāgyaṃ priyaṃ caiva kathaṃ bhavet | dharmārtha-kāma-saṃyuktaḥ sukha-bhāgī kathaṃ bhavet ||
毗湿摩波耶那说道：“阇那美阇耶啊！大智的由提施提罗走近躺在箭床之上的俱卢族老祖毗湿摩，如是发问。”由提施提罗说道：“祖父啊！人如何才能使肢体具足美貌与吉祥之光？如何才能为众人所喜爱、所亲近？又那兼具达摩、阿尔塔与迦摩之人，怎样方能真正分得幸福之份？”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical inquiry: outer grace (rūpa-saubhāgya), social goodwill (priyam), and inner well-being (sukha) are to be understood as outcomes of a life harmonized with dharma, artha, and kāma—raising the question of what conduct and values make these aims legitimate and fruitful.
After the war, Yudhiṣṭhira approaches Bhīṣma lying on his bed of arrows and asks guidance. Here he begins by questioning how a person gains beauty, becomes liked by others, and enjoys happiness while living in alignment with dharma, prosperity, and desire.