Shloka 1
अपना छा | अ:-फक्राछ सप्तपञ्चाशर्दाधिकशततमोब् ध्याय: कप नामक दानवोंके द्वारा स्वर्गलोकपर अधिकार जमा लेनेपर ब्राह्म॒णोंका कपोंको भस्म कर देना
bhīṣma uvāca
tṛṣṇīm āsīd arjunas tu pavanastv abravīt punaḥ |
śṛṇu me brāhmaṇeṣv eva mukhyaṃ karma janādhipa ||
Bhishma dijo: «Yudhishthira, aun entonces Kartavīrya Arjuna permaneció en silencio. Entonces el dios del Viento habló de nuevo: “Oh señor de los hombres, escucha de mí los deberes más excelsos y las obras ejemplares que atañen de modo especial a los brahmanes.”»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharma-instruction: the Wind-god is about to enumerate the foremost ‘karma’ (duties/exemplary conduct) specifically associated with Brahmins, implying that social and ethical order depends on each varṇa upholding its highest responsibilities.
In Bhishma’s narration to Yudhishthira, Kartavīrya Arjuna falls silent; Vāyu resumes speaking and invites the king to hear further about the principal duties of Brahmins, continuing the didactic dialogue.