Shloka 9
गोप्रदान-माहात्म्ये गोलोक-प्रश्नः
Gopradāna-Māhātmya: Inquiry into Goloka
तमानय यथोद्विष्टं पूजा कार्या हि तस्य वै । स गत्वा प्रतिकूलं तच्चकार यमशासनम्
tam ānaya yathodviṣṭaṃ pūjā kāryā hi tasya vai | sa gatvā pratikūlaṃ tac cakāra yamaśāsanam ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Amène ici ce brāhmaṇa exactement comme je l’ai indiqué, car je dois lui offrir l’honneur et le culte qui lui sont dus.» Mais ce messager de Yama s’y rendit et, agissant à l’encontre de l’ordre de Yama, adopta une conduite opposée.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores two ethical points: (1) honoring a worthy Brahmin is presented as a duty (pūjā kāryā), and (2) even a divine agent must adhere to rightful command—disobedience to yamaśāsanam (the ordinance of justice) becomes a moral fault with consequences.
Bhishma quotes an instruction to bring a particular Brahmin so that he may be honored. A messenger of Yama goes to carry out the task but acts contrary to Yama’s order, introducing a breach of cosmic/legal procedure that sets up the ensuing moral lesson.