Shloka 4
ब्राह्मणपूजा-राजधर्मः | Royal Duty of Honoring Learned Brahmins
स केन कर्मणा प्राप्तो ब्राह्म॒ण्यं राजसत्तम: । वरेण तपसा वापि तन््मे व्याख्यातुमरहसि,वे नृपशिरोमणि वीतहव्य किस कर्मसे, किस वर अथवा तपस्यासे ब्राह्मणत्वको प्राप्त हुए? यह मुझे विस्तारपूर्वक बतानेकी कृपा करें
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: sa kena karmaṇā prāpto brāhmaṇyaṁ rājasattama? vareṇa tapasā vāpi tan me vyākhyātum arhasi, he nṛpaśiromaṇe.
যুধিষ্ঠিৰে ক’লে—হে ৰাজশ্ৰেষ্ঠ! কোন কৰ্মৰ দ্বাৰা আপুনি ব্রাহ্মণ্য লাভ কৰিলে? সেয়া কি কোনো বৰৰ ফল, নে তপস্যাৰ ফল? হে নৃপশিৰোমণি! অনুগ্ৰহ কৰি মোক বিস্তাৰে ব্যাখ্যা কৰক।
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharmic inquiry into the basis of spiritual and social status: whether Brahminhood is achieved by meritorious action, by divine boon, or by austerity—implying that inner qualification and the means of attainment matter, not mere birth or title.
Yudhiṣṭhira respectfully questions a foremost king about how he came to possess Brahminhood, asking for a detailed account of the cause—deed, boon, or ascetic practice—setting up an explanatory story or teaching that follows.