Shloka 45
Umā–Maheśvara-saṃvāda: Varṇa-bhraṃśa, Ācāra (Vṛtta), and Karmic Ascent/Decline
प्राप्रुवन्तीह यज्ञस्य फलं केन च कर्मणा । एतच्छुत्वा वचस्तेषां ब्रह्मा वचनमब्रवीत्
prāpnuvantīha yajñasya phalaṁ kena ca karmaṇā | etac chrutvā vacas teṣāṁ brahmā vacanam abravīt ||
Bhishma berkata: “Dengan tindakan apa orang dapat meraih buah yajña di dunia ini?” Mendengar ucapan mereka, Brahmā pun menjawab.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharmic problem: sacrificial merit (yajña-phala) should not be limited to the wealthy. It points toward the idea that right intention and appropriate conduct (karma) can secure spiritual fruit even when material resources are lacking.
A group raises a doubt about how people—especially the virtuous who are poor—can attain the fruit of sacrifice. Brahmā, having heard them, begins to answer, setting up an explanation of what actions or substitutes lead to yajña-like merit.