Shloka 2
गोशकृन्माहात्म्य-प्रश्नः (On the Merit of Cow-Dung and the Abode of Śrī) / Inquiry into the Sanctity of Cow-Dung
सर्वलोकचरं सिद्ध ब्रह्यकोशं सनातनम् । पुरोहितमभिप्रष्टमभिवाद्योपचक्रमे
sarvalokacaraṁ siddha brahmakōśaṁ sanātanam | purohitam abhipraṣṭam abhivādya upacakrame ||
毗湿摩说：“大王，曾有一次，出自伊克什瓦库王族的绍达萨王——以辞令闻名者——前往拜见圣仙瓦西什塔，他的家祭司：一位成就圆满而永恒的先知，吠陀智慧的宝藏，能自在往来诸世界。绍达萨恭敬顶礼之后，便如此发问。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical protocol of learning: a ruler seeking guidance should approach a realized teacher (purohita/ṛṣi) with humility and reverence, and then inquire. Right questioning, preceded by respect, is presented as the proper doorway to dharma and wise governance.
Bhishma begins a past episode: King Saudāsa of the Ikshvaku line approaches his priest-sage Vasiṣṭha, salutes him, and starts asking questions—setting up a didactic dialogue on conduct and duty.