Shloka 26
Vidurā–Putra Saṃvāda: Utsāha, Kīrti, and Kṣātra Resolve
Udyoga-parva 131
पुत्रेष्वाशासते नित्यं पितरो दैवतानि च । दानमध्ययन यज्ञ प्रजानां परिपालनम्,देवता और पितर अपने उपासकों तथा वंशजोंसे सदा दान, स्वाध्याय, यज्ञ तथा प्रजापालनकी ही आशा रखते हैं
putreṣv āśāsate nityaṃ pitaro daivatāni ca | dānam adhyayana-yajña-prajānāṃ paripālanam ||
Vāyu said: “The gods and the Pitṛs (Fathers) ever look to their worshippers and descendants for these duties: generosity, sacred study (svādhyāya), sacrifice (yajña), and the protection and proper governance of the people.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
That one’s dharma toward gods and ancestors is fulfilled through four pillars of conduct: giving (dāna), sacred study (adhyayana/svādhyāya), sacrifice (yajña), and responsible protection and governance of the people (prajā-paripālana).
Vāyudeva is instructing by stating what the gods and the ancestral Pitṛs continually expect from their devotees and descendants—namely, sustained religious practice and social responsibility, not merely personal piety.