Shloka 4
कपिल–स्यूमरश्मि संवादः
Kapila and Syūmaraśmi on Renunciation, Householder Support, and Epistemic Authority
भीष्म उवाच एवमुक्तस्तुलाधारो ब्राह्मणेन यशस्विना । उवाच धर्मसूक्ष्माणि वैश्यो धर्मार्थतत्त्ववित्
bhīṣma uvāca evam uktas tulādhāro brāhmaṇena yaśasvinā | uvāca dharmasūkṣmāṇi vaiśyo dharmārthatattvavit ||
毗湿摩说道：那位声名卓著的婆罗门如此发问后，图拉达罗——通晓达摩与阿尔塔真实义理的吠舍——便开始向他阐明关于正法的微妙要点。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames Tulādhāra as a reliable ethical authority: he is presented as one who knows the subtle nuances of dharma and also understands artha (practical welfare). The core point is that true moral instruction requires discernment of fine distinctions, not merely rigid rule-following, and that wisdom can reside beyond one’s social category.
Bhishma narrates that the Brahmin Jājali has questioned Tulādhāra. In response, Tulādhāra begins his instruction, setting the stage for a detailed exposition on nuanced dharma.