Shloka 18
Adhyāya 39 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on attachment (saṅga) and relational restraint
(विद्याविदो लोकविद: तपोबलसमन्विता: । नित्यपूज्याश्र वन्द्याश्न द्विजा लोकद्वयेच्छुभि: ।।) जो इहलोक और परलोक दोनोंको सुधारना चाहते हों, उन्हें विद्वान, लौकिक बातोंके ज्ञाता, तपस्वी और शक्तिशाली ब्राह्मणोंकी सदा पूजा और वन्दना करनी चाहिये ।। इत्येतन्मे पिता श्रुत्वा सोमादद्भुतदर्शनात् । ब्राह्मणान् पूजयामास तथैवाहं महाव्रतान्,अदभुत दर्शनवाले चन्द्रमासे यह बात सुनकर मेरे पिताजीने महान् व्रतधारी ब्राह्मणोंका पूजन किया। वैसे ही मैं भी करता हूँ
somah uvāca | vidyāvido lokavidaḥ tapobalasamanvitāḥ | nityapūjyāś ca vandyāś ca dvijā lokadvaye hitaiḥ || ity etan me pitā śrutvā somād adbhutadarśanāt | brāhmaṇān pūjayāmāsa tathaivāhaṃ mahāvratān ||
Soma said: “Those who seek the welfare of both this world and the next should always honor and bow to Brahmins who are learned in sacred knowledge, skilled in worldly understanding, and endowed with ascetic power and strength. Having heard this teaching from Soma—of wondrous appearance—my father worshipped such great-vowed Brahmins; and I too do the same.”
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.