Shloka 32
अहिंसयित्वा ब्रह्महत्याविधानम् / Brahmahatyā incurred without physical violence
युधिछिर उवाच कीदृशा: साधवो वितप्रा: केभ्यो दत्त महाफलम् | कीदृशानां च भोक्तव्यं तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह,युधिष्ठिरने पूछा--पितामह! कैसे ब्राह्मणोंको श्रेष्ठ समझना चाहिये? किनको दिया हुआ दान महान् फल देनेवाला होता है? तथा कैसे ब्राह्मणोंको भोजन कराना चाहिये? यह मुझे बताइये
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | kīdṛśāḥ sādhavo viprāḥ kebhyo dattaṃ mahāphalam | kīdṛśānāṃ ca bhoktavyaṃ tan me brūhi pitāmaha ||
Yudhiṣṭhira dijo: «Abuelo, ¿qué clase de brāhmaṇas son verdaderamente virtuosos y dignos de ser tenidos por excelentes? ¿A quién, al dar un don, se obtiene un gran fruto espiritual? ¿Y qué brāhmaṇas deben ser invitados y alimentados? Dímelo, por favor.»
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharma-inquiry: the ethical value of giving depends not only on the act of donation but also on discernment—recognizing genuine virtue and learning, and offering gifts and hospitality to worthy recipients so that charity becomes spiritually fruitful.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira approaches the elder Bhīṣma (addressed as Pitāmaha) for guidance. Here he asks for criteria to identify truly virtuous brāhmaṇas, to know to whom gifts yield great results, and whom one should invite for feeding—setting up Bhīṣma’s ensuing instruction on dāna and proper recipients.