Shloka 1
पात्रलक्षण-परिक्षा (Pātra-Lakṣaṇa Parīkṣā) — Criteria for a Worthy Recipient
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठक $ “लोक मिलाकर २७३ श्लोक हैं) नफमशा+ (0) आज अन+- चतुस्त्रिंशो 5 ध्याय: श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणोंकी प्रशंसा भीष्म उवाच ब्राह्मणानेव सततं भृशं सम्परिपूजयेत् । एते हि सोमराजान ईश्वरा: सुखदुःखयो:,भीष्मजी कहते हैं--युधिष्ठिर! ब्राह्मणोंका सदा ही भलीभाँति पूजन करना चाहिये। चन्द्रमा इनके राजा हैं। ये मनुष्यको सुख और दु:ख देनेमें समर्थ हैं
bhīṣma uvāca | brāhmaṇān eva satataṁ bhṛśaṁ samparipūjayet | ete hi somarājān īśvarāḥ sukhaduḥkhayoḥ ||
Bhishma said: “O Yudhishthira, one should always and earnestly honor the Brahmanas. For they are, as it were, sovereign powers over happiness and sorrow; Soma (the Moon) is spoken of as their king.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that sustained, sincere reverence toward Brahmanas—seen as bearers of sacred knowledge and ritual authority—is a key element of dharma, because their blessings and displeasure are portrayed as having real consequences for one’s experience of happiness and suffering.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising King Yudhishthira on righteous conduct. Here he begins by urging him to honor Brahmanas, framing them as powerful moral-spiritual agents, with Soma (the Moon) described as their king.