Shloka 4
Brāhmaṇa-pūjā, Haviḥ-dāna, and the Vāsudeva–Pṛthivī Saṃvāda
Chapter 34
बहुमानपरस्तेषु भगवन् यान् नमस्यसि । शव्यं चेच्छोतुमस्माभिर््रह्वेतद् धर्मवित्तम
bhīṣma uvāca | bahumānaparas teṣu bhagavan yān namasyasi | śavyaṃ cec chrotum asmābhir rahv etad dharmavittama ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Ô vénérable, envers qui portes-tu une si grande révérence — ceux devant qui toi-même tu t’inclines ? Si tu juges bon que nous l’entendions, ô connaisseur du dharma, dévoile cette question profonde et présente-nous ces hommes dignes d’hommage.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharmic humility: even the revered seek guidance about whom to honor. It frames reverence (namas) as an ethical act grounded in discernment—learning who truly deserves respect and why.
Bhishma addresses the sage Narada, asking him to identify the exalted persons for whom Narada feels deep respect and to whom he bows. Bhishma requests, if appropriate, that Narada reveal this ‘profound matter’ and introduce those venerable figures.