Shloka 1
जापक–इक्ष्वाकु–सत्यविवादः
The Jāpaka, Ikṣvāku, and the Dispute on Truth and Merit
अप ह< बक। है २ >> एकनवर्त्याधिकशततमो< ध्याय: ब्रह्मचर्य और गार्हस्थ्य आश्रमोंके धर्मका वर्णन भरद्वाज उवाच दानस्य कि फल प्राहुर्धर्मस्थ चरितस्य च । तपसश्च सुतप्तस्य स्वाध्यायस्य हुतस्य वा
Bharadvāja uvāca: dānasya kiṁ phalaṁ prāhur dharmastha caritasya ca | tapasaś ca sutaptasya svādhyāyasya hutasya vā ||
婆罗门婆罗陀婆阇说道：“噢，婆罗门啊，智者们宣说：当人安住于法而行布施时，其果报为何？又，善修的苦行之果、吠陀自习（svādhyāya）之果，以及投入圣火的供献（火祭）之果，分别被说成是什么？”
भरद्वाज उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharma-inquiry: it asks what spiritual and ethical ‘fruits’ are attributed to four foundational disciplines—charity grounded in righteousness, properly performed austerity, disciplined Vedic study, and fire-offerings—setting up a discussion on how inner intention and right conduct determine the value of religious acts.
At the opening of the chapter, the sage Bharadvāja addresses a Brāhmaṇa teacher and requests an authoritative explanation of the outcomes (phala) of key duties associated with brahmacarya and gārhasthya life—giving, tapas, svādhyāya, and ritual offerings.