Shloka 18
Adhyāya 39 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on attachment (saṅga) and relational restraint
(विद्याविदो लोकविद: तपोबलसमन्विता: । नित्यपूज्याश्र वन्द्याश्न द्विजा लोकद्वयेच्छुभि: ।।
somah uvāca | vidyāvido lokavidaḥ tapobalasamanvitāḥ | nityapūjyāś ca vandyāś ca dvijā lokadvaye hitaiḥ || ity etan me pitā śrutvā somād adbhutadarśanāt | brāhmaṇān pūjayāmāsa tathaivāhaṃ mahāvratān ||
Soma dit : « Ceux qui recherchent le bien de ce monde et de l’autre doivent toujours honorer et saluer avec révérence les brahmanes instruits dans le savoir sacré, versés dans l’intelligence des choses du monde, et pourvus de puissance ascétique et de force. » Ayant entendu cet enseignement de Soma—d’apparence merveilleuse—mon père vénéra de tels brahmanes aux grands vœux ; et moi aussi, je fais de même.
सोम उवाच
Educational Q&A
One who seeks well-being in both this life and the next should continually honor and show reverence to Brahmins characterized by learning (vidyā), worldly discernment (loka-jñāna), and ascetic power (tapas/bala). The verse frames such respect as a dharmic practice with benefits spanning the 'two worlds.'
Soma speaks a maxim about whom to honor for the sake of welfare in both worlds. He then adds a personal testimony: his father, after hearing this instruction from Soma (described as wondrous in appearance), worshipped great-vowed Brahmins, and Soma states that he follows the same practice.