Shloka 5
भोजनं भोजयेद् विप्रान् गन्धमाल्यैरलंकृतान् । भीष्मपर्वणि राजेन्द्र दद्यात् पानीयमुत्तमम्,राजेन्द्र! भीष्मपर्व सुन लेनेपर मनुष्य ब्राह्मणोंको गन्ध और माल्य आदिसे अलंकृत करके उत्तम भोजन कराये तथा पवित्र जलका दान करे
vaiśampāyana uvāca | bhojanaṃ bhojayet viprān gandhamālyair alaṅkṛtān | bhīṣmaparvaṇi rājendra dadyāt pānīyam uttamam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O king, on the occasion of the Bhīṣma Parva, one should honor brāhmaṇas—adorned with fragrance and garlands—by feeding them an excellent meal, and one should also give the gift of pure, superior drinking water.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches dharmic response to sacred recitation: one should express reverence through generosity—honoring learned brāhmaṇas with respectful adornment, feeding them well, and donating pure drinking water.
Vaiśampāyana addresses a king and prescribes a meritorious practice connected with the Bhīṣma Parva: after hearing/engaging with this parva, one should perform acts of hospitality and charity, especially feeding brāhmaṇas and giving water.