Shloka 1
कालनिर्देशः शोकनिवारणं च
Instruction on Kāla and the Removal of Grief
ऑपनआ कराता बछ। अर: चतुस्त्रिंशो 5 ध्याय: जिन कर्मोके करने और न करनेसे कर्ता प्रायश्षित्तका भागी होता और नहीं होता--उनका विवेचन युधिषछ्िर उवाच कानि कृत्वेह कर्माणि प्रायश्षित्तीयते नर: । कि कृत्वा मुच्यते तत्र तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | kāni kṛtveha karmāṇi prāyaścittīyate naraḥ | kiṃ kṛtvā mucyate tatra tan me brūhi pitāmaha ||
由提施提罗说道：“噢，尊贵的祖父啊，在此世间，做哪些行为会使人必须行赎罪法（prāyaścitta）？又当以何种作为，才能从那负担中解脱？请您告诉我。”
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical inquiry central to dharma: which deeds incur moral fault requiring prāyaścitta (expiation), and what conduct or discipline leads to release from that fault. It sets up Bhīṣma’s instruction on responsibility, wrongdoing, and purification.
In the Śānti Parva’s instructional setting, Yudhiṣṭhira approaches Bhīṣma as a revered authority and asks for guidance about expiation—what actions make one liable to atonement and how one becomes freed—initiating a discussion on moral and ritual-ethical remedies.