Shloka 131
मातापितृगुरुपूजा-प्रशंसा
Praise of Venerating Mother, Father, and Teacher
नित्यं परिचरेच्चैव तद् वै सुकृतमुत्तमम् । कीर्ति पुण्यं यशो लोकानू् प्राप्स्यसे राजसत्तम
nityaṃ paricarec caiva tad vai sukṛtam uttamam | kīrti puṇyaṃ yaśo lokān prāpsyase rājasattama ||
Bhishma said: “Serve (this duty/that person) constantly; that indeed is the highest meritorious act. By doing so, O best of kings, you will attain good repute, spiritual merit, fame, and auspicious worlds (hereafter).”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steady, continual practice of the prescribed duty—expressed as faithful service/attendance—is presented as the highest form of merit, yielding both ethical fruits (puṇya) and social-spiritual fruits (kīrti, yaśas, and auspicious lokas).
In the Śānti Parva instruction, Bhīṣma continues advising the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) on righteous conduct and the fruits of disciplined adherence to duty, emphasizing that consistent service and practice lead to lasting honor and beneficial outcomes in this life and beyond.