Shloka 1
अष्टपञ्चाशर्दाधिकशततमो« ध्याय: भीष्मजीके द्वारा भगवान् श्रीकृष्णकी महिमाका वर्णन युधिछिर उवाच ब्राह्मणानर्चसे राजन् सततं संशितव्रतान् । कं तु कर्मोदयं दृष्टवा तानर्चसि जनाधिप
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca—brāhmaṇān arcasi rājan satataṁ saṁśitavratān | kaṁ tu karmodayaṁ dṛṣṭvā tān arcasi janādhipa ||
Yudhiṣṭhira dit : «Ô roi, tu honores sans cesse les brāhmaṇas, fermes dans des vœux rigoureusement observés. Dis-moi, seigneur des hommes : quel fruit, quel avantage né de l’action vois-tu pour les vénérer ainsi ?»
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical inquiry into motivation: Yudhiṣṭhira asks whether honoring disciplined brāhmaṇas is done for a perceived ‘fruit of action’ (karmodaya) and invites a dharma-based explanation of why reverence to the virtuous is meritorious and socially sustaining.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction setting, Yudhiṣṭhira questions Bhīṣma about Bhīṣma’s habitual practice of venerating vow-observant brāhmaṇas, specifically asking what benefit Bhīṣma considered as the reason for such worship.