Shloka 12

इस कारणको जानकर अर्थात्‌ ब्राह्मणके उपदेशके अनुसार चलना ही अमृत है--इस बातको भलीभाँति समझकर पूर्वकालमें देवासुरसंग्रामको उपस्थित हुआ देख मेरे पिता मन-ही-मन प्रसन्न और विस्मित हुए थे ।। दृष्टवा च ब्राह्म॒णानां तु महिमानं महात्मनाम्‌ | पर्यपृच्छत्‌ कथममी सिद्धा इति निशाकरम्‌,महात्मा ब्राह्मणोंकी इस महिमाको देखकर उन्होंने चन्द्रमासे पूछा--“निशाकर! इन ब्राह्मणोंको किस प्रकार सिद्धि प्राप्त हुई?”

dṛṣṭvā ca brāhmaṇānāṃ tu mahimānaṃ mahātmanām | paryapṛcchat katham amī siddhā iti niśākaram ||

ولما علم هذا السبب—أي إن السير على وصية البراهمن هو الأمṛتا—وفهمه حقّ الفهم، إذ شهد قديماً حرب الآلهة والأسورا، سُرَّ أبي في باطنه ودهش. ثم لما رأى جلال أولئك البراهمة ذوي النفوس العظيمة سأل نيشاكارا (القمر): «يا نيشاكارا! كيف نال هؤلاء البراهمة السِدّهي (التمام الروحي)؟»

दृष्ट्वाhaving seen
दृष्ट्वा:
Adhikarana
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपद (usage-neutral here)
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
ब्राह्मणानाम्of the Brahmins
ब्राह्मणानाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
महिमानम्greatness, glory
महिमानम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमहिमन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
महात्मनाम्of the great-souled (ones)
महात्मनाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootमहात्मन्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
पर्यपृच्छत्asked, inquired
पर्यपृच्छत्:
TypeVerb
Rootप्रच्छ्
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada, परि
कथम्how
कथम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथम्
अमीthese (those) people
अमी:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootअदस् (प्रातिपदिक: अमु-)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
सिद्धाःaccomplished, perfected
सिद्धाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसिद्ध (from √सिध्)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural, past participle (क्त)
इतिthus (quotative)
इति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति
निशाकरम्the moon (night-maker)
निशाकरम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनिशाकर
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular

शम्बर उवाच

Ś
Śambara
B
brāhmaṇas
N
Niśākara (the Moon)
Ś
Śambara's father
D
Devas
A
Asuras
D
Deva–Asura saṅgrāma (war of gods and asuras)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights reverence for the spiritual power (mahimā) of brāhmaṇas and implies that ‘immortality’ or enduring good is gained by following dharmic instruction—disciplined conduct and adherence to righteous teaching—rather than by mere worldly power.

Śambara recounts that his father, witnessing the extraordinary greatness of noble brāhmaṇas (in the broader setting that recalls the Deva–Asura war), becomes inwardly pleased and amazed, and asks the Moon (Niśākara) how these brāhmaṇas achieved such siddhi.