Shloka 9
कपोती-विलापः स्वर्गसंयोगश्च
The Dove’s Lament and Celestial Reunion
मुनिर्वाच धर्मनिश्चयसंयुक्तां कामार्थसहितां कथाम् | शृणुष्वावहितो राजन् गदतो मे महाभुज
munir uvāca dharmaniścayasaṃyuktāṃ kāmārthasahitāṃ kathām | śṛṇuṣvāvahito rājan gadato me mahābhuja ||
仙人说道：“臂力无双的国王啊，当我开口之时，你当专心聆听。此叙事根植于对法（dharma）的明断，又兼具阿尔塔（artha，世间福祉）与迦摩（kāma，正当欲求）之旨。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the forthcoming discourse as a balanced instruction: it clarifies dharma through firm discernment (niścaya) while also acknowledging artha and kāma as legitimate human aims when integrated under dharma.
A sage addresses a king and invites him to listen with full attention, introducing a story/discourse that will guide ethical judgment (dharma) alongside practical and human concerns (artha and kāma).