Shloka 15
Śānti-parva Adhyāya 30: Nārada–Parvata Samaya-bhaṅga, Śāpa, and the Marriage of Sukumārī
कन्ये विप्रावुपचर देववत् पितृवच्च ह । तब उन दोनोंने कहा--“बहुत अच्छा।” इसके बाद राजाने उस कन्याको आदेश दिया --“बेटी! तुम इन दोनों महर्षियोंकी देवता और पितरोंके समान सेवा किया करो”। सा तु कन्या तथेत्युक्त्वा पितरं धर्मचारिणी
kanye viprāv upacara devavat pitṛvac ca ha | tataḥ tau dvau uvatuḥ—“bahu śobhanam” | tataḥ paraṁ rājā tāṁ kanyām ājñāpayām āsa—“putri! tvam etau dvau maharṣī devavat pitṛṇāṁ ca samāṁ sevāṁ kuru” | sā tu kanyā tathety uktvā pitaraṁ dharmacāriṇī
Raja berkata, “Wahai gadis, layani dua resi brahmana ini sebagaimana engkau melayani para dewa, dan sebagaimana engkau menghormati para leluhur.” Mendengar itu, keduanya menjawab, “Baik.” Lalu raja memerintahkan sang gadis, “Anakku, layani dua maharsi ini dengan hormat seperti kepada dewa dan para pitara.” Gadis yang berpegang pada dharma itu berkata, “Demikianlah,” lalu berpaling kepada ayahnya.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames service to worthy guests—especially brahmin sages—as a sacred duty: one should honor them with the same reverence given to gods and ancestors. Ethical conduct (dharma) is shown through respectful service and obedience to righteous instruction.
A king directs his daughter to attend upon two visiting brahmin sages, telling her to serve them as she would the gods and the Pitṛs. The sages assent, and the virtuous maiden accepts the command, indicating readiness to act according to dharma.