Shloka 16
Nārada–Vāyu–Śalmali Upākhyāna: Enmity with the Strong and the Primacy of Buddhi (नारद-वायु-शल्मलि उपाख्यानम्)
यान् पूजयन्तो विन्दन्ति स्वर्गमायुर्यश: प्रजा: । तेषु त्वं सततं द्वेष्टा ब्राह्मणेषु निरर्थक:,“जिनकी पूजा करनेवाले लोग स्वर्ग, आयु, यश और संतान प्राप्त करते हैं। उन्हीं ब्राह्मणोंसे तू सदा द्वेष रखता है। तेरा जीवन व्यर्थ है
yān pūjayanto vindanti svargam āyur yaśaḥ prajāḥ | teṣu tvaṃ satataṃ dveṣṭā brāhmaṇeṣu nirarthakaḥ ||
Bhishma disse: “Aqueles brâmanes, ao serem honrados, concedem às pessoas céu, longa vida, fama e descendência—e, no entanto, é contra esses mesmos brâmanes que tu nutres ódio contínuo. Tua vida é sem propósito.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that honoring worthy Brahmins is a dharmic act believed to yield spiritual and worldly fruits (heaven, longevity, fame, progeny), while harboring baseless hatred toward them makes one’s life ‘nirarthaka’—devoid of meaningful purpose and merit.
In Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Bhishma rebukes an addressee for maintaining continual, unjustified hostility toward Brahmins, contrasting that behavior with the traditional esteem shown to them and the benefits associated with such reverence.