Shloka 11
मातापितृगुरुपूजा-प्रशंसा
Praise of Venerating Mother, Father, and Teacher
इन तीनोंकी आज्ञाका कभी उल्लंघन न करे, इनको भोजन करानेके पहले स्वयं भोजन न करे, इनपर कोई दोषारोपण न करे और सदा इनकी सेवामें संलग्न रहे। यही सबसे उत्तम पुण्यकर्म है। नृपश्रेष्ठ) इनकी सेवासे तुम कीर्ति, पवित्र यश और उत्तमलोक सब कुछ प्राप्त कर लोगे
bhīṣma uvāca | imāṃs trīnājñāṃ kadācit na laṅghayet, etebhyo bhojanaṃ dattvā pūrvaṃ svayaṃ na bhuñjīta, eteṣu doṣāropaṇaṃ na kuryāt, sadā ca teṣāṃ sevāyāṃ saṃlagnas tiṣṭhet | etad eva paramam puṇyakarma | nṛpaśreṣṭha, teṣāṃ sevayā tvaṃ kīrtiṃ pavitraṃ yaśaś ca uttamalokāṃś ca sarvān prāpsyasi ||
Bhishma said: “Never transgress the commands of these three. Do not eat before feeding them; do not cast blame upon them; and remain constantly engaged in serving them. This, indeed, is the highest meritorious act. O best of kings, by serving them you will attain fame, pure renown, and all the highest worlds.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that the highest merit lies in disciplined reverence: obeying the injunctions of the revered three, feeding them before oneself, refraining from blaming them, and remaining steadily devoted to their service—actions that yield both moral purity and exalted reward.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma addresses the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) and prescribes concrete household and ethical conduct—especially prioritizing the care and honor of a specified triad—promising fame and higher spiritual attainments as the fruit of such service.