Shloka 1
पात्रलक्षण-परिक्षा (Pātra-Lakṣaṇa Parīkṣā) — Criteria for a Worthy Recipient
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठक $ “लोक मिलाकर २७३ श्लोक हैं) नफमशा+ (0) आज अन+- चतुस्त्रिंशो 5 ध्याय: श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणोंकी प्रशंसा भीष्म उवाच ब्राह्मणानेव सततं भृशं सम्परिपूजयेत् । एते हि सोमराजान ईश्वरा: सुखदुःखयो:
bhīṣma uvāca | brāhmaṇān eva satataṁ bhṛśaṁ samparipūjayet | ete hi somarājān īśvarāḥ sukhaduḥkhayoḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai Yudhishthira, para Brahmana hendaknya senantiasa dihormati dan dipuja dengan sungguh-sungguh. Mereka bagaikan penguasa atas suka dan duka; dan Soma (Dewa Bulan) disebut sebagai raja mereka.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that sustained, sincere reverence toward Brahmanas—seen as bearers of sacred knowledge and ritual authority—is a key element of dharma, because their blessings and displeasure are portrayed as having real consequences for one’s experience of happiness and suffering.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising King Yudhishthira on righteous conduct. Here he begins by urging him to honor Brahmanas, framing them as powerful moral-spiritual agents, with Soma (the Moon) described as their king.