Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 38
भीष्मस्योत्तरायणप्रतीक्षा तथा युधिष्ठिरागमनम् | Bhīṣma’s uttarāyaṇa moment and Yudhiṣṭhira’s arrival
यो हि मां द्रष्टमिच्छेत ब्रह्माणं च पितामहम् । द्रष्टव्यस्तेन भगवान् वासुदेव: प्रतापवान्,जो मेरा और पितामह ब्रह्माजीका दर्शन करना चाहता हो, उसे प्रतापी भगवान् वासुदेवका दर्शन करना चाहिये
yo hi māṁ draṣṭum icchet brahmāṇaṁ ca pitāmaham | draṣṭavyas tena bhagavān vāsudevaḥ pratāpavān ||
Whoever truly wishes to behold Me—and also Brahmā, the grandsire—should seek the vision of the glorious Lord Vāsudeva; for in seeing Him, one attains the highest divine vision that encompasses all.
ईश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the highest divine vision is centered on Vāsudeva: one who seeks to see the supreme Lord and even Brahmā should direct devotion toward Vāsudeva, implying His encompassing supremacy and the unity of divine manifestations.
Īśvara is speaking doctrinal instruction, redirecting the seeker’s desire for divine sight toward Vāsudeva, presented as the most fitting and complete object of darśana—even for those aiming to behold exalted deities like Brahmā.