Shloka 39
Go-dāna-phala-nirdeśa
Merit and Destinations from the Gift of Cows
तद् ब्रह्म॒चर्यस्य फलमृषीणामिह दृश्यते । मातापित्रो: पूजने यो धर्मस्तमपि मे शृणु
tad brahmacaryasya phalam ṛṣīṇām iha dṛśyate | mātāpitrōḥ pūjane yo dharmas tam api me śṛṇu ||
Bhishma said: “Here, among the sages, the fruit of brahmacarya (disciplined celibate conduct) is plainly seen. Now listen to me also about that dharma which consists in honoring and worshipping one’s mother and father.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma highlights two pillars of dharma: (1) brahmacarya, whose spiritual power becomes visibly effective among sages, and (2) the duty of reverently honoring one’s parents, which he introduces as the next topic.
In Anushasana Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Bhishma continues his discourse by pointing to the observable potency of brahmacarya among ṛṣis and then transitions to explain the dharma connected with worshipful service to mother and father.