Shloka 29
The Birth of Mahārāja Parīkṣit and Prophecies of His Greatness
इति राज्ञ उपादिश्य विप्रा जातककोविदा: । लब्धापचितय: सर्वे प्रतिजग्मु: स्वकान् गृहान् ॥ २९ ॥
iti rājña upādiśya viprā jātaka-kovidāḥ labdhāpacitayaḥ sarve pratijagmuḥ svakān gṛhān
Thus the brāhmaṇas, expert in the birth rites and in astrological knowledge, instructed King Yudhiṣṭhira about the future course of his child. Then, having been richly rewarded, they all returned to their respective homes.
The Vedas are the storehouse of knowledge, both material and spiritual. But such knowledge aims at perfection of self-realization. In other words, the Vedas are the guides for the civilized man in every respect. Since human life is the opportunity to get free from all material miseries, it is properly guided by the knowledge of the Vedas, in the matters of both material needs and spiritual salvation. The specific intelligent class of men who were devoted particularly to the knowledge of the Vedas were called the vipras, or the graduates of the Vedic knowledge. There are different branches of knowledge in the Vedas, of which astrology and pathology are two important branches necessary for the common man. So the intelligent men, generally known as the brāhmaṇas, took up all the different branches of Vedic knowledge to guide society. Even the department of military education ( Dhanur-veda ) was also taken up by such intelligent men, and the vipras were also teachers of this section of knowledge, as were Droṇācārya, Kṛpācārya, etc.
FAQs
This verse shows that after giving guidance, learned brāhmaṇas were properly honored and remunerated, and then they departed—highlighting dharmic respect and charity during sacred rites.
They were jātaka-kovida—experts in interpreting birth signs—invited to advise the King about the child’s indications and future, as part of the traditional birth ceremony.
Seek guidance from qualified, wise teachers, receive their counsel respectfully, and practice gratitude—supporting genuine spiritual learning rather than treating it as a mere transaction.