Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 54
अपूजयं च मनसा रौक्मिणेय सदा द्विजान् | रुक्मिणीनन्दन! वे सारी वस्तुएँ नूतन और सुदृढ़ रूपमें उपलब्ध हैं, यह देखकर मुझे बड़ा आश्चर्य हुआ और मैंने मन-ही-मन द्विजोंकी सदा ही पूजा की ।।
apūjayaṃ ca manasā raukmiṇeya sadā dvijān | rukmiṇīnandana! ye sarvā vastūni nūtana-sudṛḍha-rūpeṇa upalabdhāni, iti dṛṣṭvā mama mahad āścaryaṃ jātaṃ, mayā ca mana eva dvijān sadā pūjitāḥ || ity ahaṃ raukmiṇeyasya pṛcchato bharatarṣabha ||
Vāyu dit : «Et, ô fils de Rukmiṇī, je vénérais sans cesse les brahmanes dans mon cœur. Voyant que toutes choses se trouvaient là comme fraîchement faites, solides et intactes, je fus saisi d’un grand émerveillement, et, intérieurement, j’offris un hommage constant aux “deux-fois-nés”. Ainsi parlai-je, ô taureau parmi les Bhārata, lorsque Raukmiṇeya m’interrogea.»
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights inward reverence (manasā pūjā) toward the dvijas/Brahmins as a dharmic attitude: gratitude and respect are not merely external rituals but can be sincerely maintained in the mind, especially upon witnessing order, abundance, and well-maintained provisions.
Vāyu addresses Kṛṣṇa (Raukmiṇeya, son of Rukmiṇī), describing his astonishment at finding all items available in a fresh and sturdy condition; moved by this auspicious sight, he honors the Brahmins mentally. The closing line frames this as part of Vāyu’s reply while being questioned, addressed to “Bharatarṣabha.”