Shloka 15
Śakra–Śambara Saṃvāda: Brāhmaṇa-sevā, Anasūyā, and Vāg-bala (शक्रशम्बरसंवादः)
पितृणां देवतानां च मनुष्योरगरक्षसाम् । पुराप्येते महाभागा ब्राह्मणा वै जनाधिप,नरेश्वर! प्राचीनकालसे ही ये महाभाग ब्राह्मण-लोग देवता, पितर, मनुष्य, नाग और राक्षसोंके पूजनीय हैं
pitṝṇāṃ devatānāṃ ca manuṣyoragarakṣasām | purāpy ete mahābhāgā brāhmaṇā vai janādhipa naraśvara |
Bhishma dijo: «¡Oh señor de los hombres, oh rey! Desde tiempos antiguos, estos ilustres bráhmanas han sido en verdad dignos de veneración para los Pitṛs (antepasados) y los dioses, y también para los hombres, los nāgas y los rākṣasas.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts the long-established dharmic principle that Brāhmaṇas, as custodians of Vedic learning and ritual, are to be honored universally—by gods, ancestors, humans, and even powerful non-human beings—highlighting reverence for spiritual authority and tradition.
Bhīṣma addresses the king (Yudhiṣṭhira in this parva’s discourse) and emphasizes an ancient norm: Brāhmaṇas have always been regarded as venerable across all realms of beings, reinforcing the ethical duty of rulers and society to respect and protect them.