Shloka 3
कार्त्तिकेय-जन्मोपक्रमः
Prelude to the Birth of Kārttikeya/Skanda
व्याध उवाच हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि । एषां गुणान् पृथक्त्वेन निबोध गदतो मम,धर्मव्याधने कहा--ब्रह्मन्! आप मुझसे जो बात पूछ रहे हैं, मैं अब उसे कहूँगा। सत्त्व, रज और तम--इन तीनोंके गुणोंका पृथक्-पृथक् वर्णन करता हूँ, सुनिये
vyādha uvāca | hanta te kathayiṣyāmi yan māṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi | eṣāṃ guṇān pṛthaktvena nibodha gadato mama ||
猎人说道：“好，我将告诉你所问之事。且听我分明而依次地讲述这三种德性（guṇa）——萨埵、罗阇与昏暗——各自的特征。”
व्याध उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse introduces a structured ethical-psychological teaching: the speaker will explain the three guṇas—sattva, rajas, and tamas—separately, implying that understanding these modes is essential for discerning right conduct (dharma) and inner disposition.
In the Dharmavyādha episode of the Vana Parva, the hunter responds to a Brahmin’s inquiry and begins his instruction, announcing that he will now describe the three guṇas in a clear, differentiated manner.