Shloka 15
युधिष्ठिरप्रश्नः—विश्वामित्रस्य ब्राह्मणत्वकौतूहलम् | Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry on Viśvāmitra’s Attainment of Brāhmaṇya
ध्रुवस्यौत्तानपादस्य ब्रद्मर्षीणां तथैव च । मध्यं ज्वलति यो नित्यमुदीचीमाश्रितो दिशम्
dhruvasyauttānapādasya brahmarṣīṇāṁ tathaiva ca | madhyaṁ jvalati yo nityam udīcīm āśrito diśam ||
ଯୁଧିଷ୍ଠିର କହିଲେ—ଉତ୍ତାନପାଦଙ୍କ ପୁତ୍ର ଧ୍ରୁବ, ଯିଏ ଉତ୍ତର ଦିଗର ଆକାଶରେ ବ୍ରହ୍ମର୍ଷିମାନଙ୍କ (ସପ୍ତର୍ଷିମାନଙ୍କ) ମଧ୍ୟରେ ତାରାରୂପେ ସଦା ଦୀପ୍ତିମାନ, ସେ ତ ଖ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟ ହିଁ ଥିଲେ। କୁରୁନନ୍ଦନ! ତାଙ୍କର ଏହି ଓ ଅନ୍ୟାନ୍ୟ ଅନେକ ଅଦ୍ଭୁତ କର୍ମ ସ୍ମରଣ କରି ମୋ ହୃଦୟରେ କୌତୁହଳ ଜନ୍ମିଛି—ସେ କିପରି ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ ଭାବେ ଗଣ୍ୟ ହେଲେ?
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse raises an ethical and social inquiry central to dharma: whether spiritual attainment and recognized sanctity (as with Dhruva’s cosmic exaltation) can transcend or transform birth-based identity (kṣatriya vs. brāhmaṇa). It frames varṇa not merely as heredity but as a topic to be examined through conduct, merit, and tradition.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a revered interlocutor (implied by “Kuru-nandana” in the surrounding context) and points to Dhruva’s well-known celestial position in the northern sky among the sages’ stars. Remembering Dhruva’s extraordinary deeds, he expresses curiosity about how Dhruva—known as a kṣatriya by birth—came to be spoken of as a brāhmaṇa.