Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 42
भीष्मस्योत्तरायणप्रतीक्षा तथा युधिष्ठिरागमनम् | Bhīṣma’s uttarāyaṇa moment and Yudhiṣṭhira’s arrival
धर्माणां देशिक: साक्षात् स भविष्यति धर्मभाक् । धर्मवद्धिः स देवेशो नमस्कार्य: सदोद्यतै:
dharmāṇāṁ deśikaḥ sākṣāt sa bhaviṣyati dharmabhāk | dharmavṛddhiḥ sa deveśo namaskāryaḥ sadodyataiḥ |
He will become the direct instructor of dharma and a true participant in its fruits. Therefore, those devoted to righteousness should, ever energetic and steadfast, bow in reverence to the Lord of gods—Vāsudeva—who is the very increase and upholding of dharma.
ईश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that one who truly instructs and upholds dharma becomes a sharer in its spiritual fruits; therefore, righteous people should continually offer reverence to Vāsudeva, portrayed as the divine source and augmenter of dharma.
Īśvara speaks in praise of Vāsudeva, presenting him as the supreme divine authority connected with the teaching and flourishing of dharma, and urges devoted practitioners to bow to him with constant zeal.