Shloka 12
Dāna–Tapaḥ Praśaṃsā and Gṛhastha-Upadeśa
Maitreya
भीष्म उवाच भगवद्धचनातू् कीटो ब्राद्ाण्यं प्राप्प दुर्लभम्
bhīṣma uvāca—bhagavad-vacanāt tu kīṭo brāhmaṇyaṁ prāpya durlabham; (sa) pṛthivīṁ śataśo yajñayūpair aṅkitavān. tadanantaram brahmavettṝṇāṁ śreṣṭhaḥ san brahma-sālokyaṁ prāptaḥ, brahmalokaṁ gatvā sanātanaṁ brahma prāpnoti.
ビーシュマは言った。「王よ、尊きヴィヤーサの語るところによれば、かつてはただの虫であったその者は、得難いバラモンの位を得た。ついで幾百もの祭柱を立てて大地をしるし、偉大な祭祀を執り行った。その後、梵（ブラフマン）を知る者のうち最勝となり、梵天と同じ界に住する果を得た—すなわちブラフマローカに至り、永遠のブラフマンを証得したのだ。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even one of the lowest origins (a former ‘worm’) can, through accumulated merit, right conduct, and ultimately Brahman-knowledge, rise to the highest spiritual attainment—showing the Mahabharata’s emphasis on transformation through dharma and realization.
Bhishma recounts Vyasa’s authoritative tradition: a being formerly a worm attains rare brahmin status, performs many great sacrifices (symbolized by hundreds of yajña-posts across the earth), and then surpasses ritual merit by becoming a foremost knower of Brahman, reaching Brahmaloka and realizing the eternal Brahman.