Shloka 1
अष्टपञ्चाशर्दाधिकशततमो« ध्याय: भीष्मजीके द्वारा भगवान् श्रीकृष्णकी महिमाका वर्णन युधिछिर उवाच ब्राह्मणानर्चसे राजन् सततं संशितव्रतान् । कं तु कर्मोदयं दृष्टवा तानर्चसि जनाधिप
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca—brāhmaṇān arcasi rājan satataṁ saṁśitavratān | kaṁ tu karmodayaṁ dṛṣṭvā tān arcasi janādhipa ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Wahai Raja, engkau sentiasa memuja para brāhmaṇa yang teguh dalam ikrar dan disiplin yang ketat. Maka, wahai penghulu manusia, apakah buah atau manfaat daripada perbuatan yang engkau lihat sehingga engkau memuja mereka?”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical inquiry into motivation: Yudhiṣṭhira asks whether honoring disciplined brāhmaṇas is done for a perceived ‘fruit of action’ (karmodaya) and invites a dharma-based explanation of why reverence to the virtuous is meritorious and socially sustaining.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction setting, Yudhiṣṭhira questions Bhīṣma about Bhīṣma’s habitual practice of venerating vow-observant brāhmaṇas, specifically asking what benefit Bhīṣma considered as the reason for such worship.