Shloka 31
पात्रलक्षण-परिक्षा (Pātra-Lakṣaṇa Parīkṣā) — Criteria for a Worthy Recipient
एतां श्रुत्वोपमां पार्थ प्रयतो ब्राह्मणर्षभान् । सतत पूजयेथास्त्वं तत: श्रेयोडभिपत्स्यसे
etāṁ śrutvopamāṁ pārtha prayato brāhmaṇarṣabhān | satataṁ pūjayethās tvaṁ tataḥ śreyo 'bhipatsyase, kuntīnandana ||
Bhishma bersabda: “Wahai Partha, setelah mendengar ajaran yang disampaikan melalui perumpamaan ini, hendaklah engkau, dengan niat yang suci dan terkendali, senantiasa memuliakan para Brahmana yang utama. Dengan demikian, wahai putra Kunti, engkau akan meraih kebajikan yang sejati.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that continual, sincere honoring of exemplary Brahmins—done with self-restraint and purity—leads to śreyas, i.e., true welfare and auspicious spiritual benefit.
Bhishma, instructing Arjuna in Anushasana Parva, concludes an illustrative example (upamā/dṛṣṭānta) by urging Arjuna to maintain a steady practice of reverence toward worthy Brahmins as part of righteous conduct.