Bhīṣmoktastavarāja

Bhīṣmoktastavarāja also known as Rājadharma anuśāsana parva is the1st part out of the 3, from the 12th Parva (chapter) of the epic Mahābhārata, that is Śānti Parva. There are a total of 18 Parvas in Mahābhārata. Bhīṣmastavarāja consists of about 108 Ślokas (Metered Verses) depending on the edition. The text describes about the Rāja Dharma. The duties of a king or Leader with respect to various things. This text is also popularly recited as a prayer. This Ms. contains the following speaker titles [1] Janamejaya Uvāca and [2] Vaiśampāyana Uvāca present in (f.1b), [3] Bhīṣma Uvāca in (f.2b), [4] Vaiśampāyana Uvāca in (f.15a). On (f.16a) after Śloka no.19 there are some extra verses that are not found in the popular edition. All the verses in the text are in Anuṣṭup Chanda (meter) but Śloka no. 19 is in Rucirā Chanda. It is commonly seen in Mahākāvyas that the ending verse of a chapter is in a different meter by the author. This Ms. has 7 lines per folio. Cover page has ornamental design in red in the form of a frame. There are double red line vertical margin lines on each side of folio. Invocation, introduction of speakers, double straight line brackets (Pūrna Virāma or Full Stops) are in red.