Shloka 25
Karma-Phala Rahasya and the Ethics of Dāna (कर्मफल-रहस्यं दानधर्मश्च)
येन प्रीणाति पितरं तेन प्रीत: प्रजापति: । प्रीणाति मातरं येन पृथिवी तेन पूजिता
yena prīṇāti pitaraṁ tena prītaḥ prajāpatiḥ | prīṇāti mātaraṁ yena pṛthivī tena pūjitā ||
قال بهيشما: بأيِّ سلوكٍ يُسرُّ المرءُ أباه، فبذلك يرضى براجابتي (Prajāpati) ربُّ الخلائق. وبأيِّ سلوكٍ يُسرُّ المرءُ أمَّه، فبذلك تُكرَّم الأرضُ نفسها وتُعظَّم كأنها مُتعبَّدٌ لها.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that pleasing one’s parents is not merely a social virtue but a sacred act: honoring the father pleases Prajāpati (the cosmic lord of progeny and order), and honoring the mother is equivalent to honoring the Earth itself.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira by linking everyday household conduct—especially service to parents—to divine approval and the honoring of foundational cosmic principles.