Shloka 1
अपना छा | अ:-फक्राछ सप्तपञ्चाशर्दाधिकशततमोब् ध्याय: कप नामक दानवोंके द्वारा स्वर्गलोकपर अधिकार जमा लेनेपर ब्राह्म॒णोंका कपोंको भस्म कर देना
bhīṣma uvāca
tṛṣṇīm āsīd arjunas tu pavanastv abravīt punaḥ |
śṛṇu me brāhmaṇeṣv eva mukhyaṃ karma janādhipa ||
भीष्म उवाच— युधिष्ठिर, ततः अपि कार्तवीर्यार्जुनस्तूष्णीमेवाभवत्। अथ पवनो देवः पुनरब्रवीत्— “नराधिप, ब्राह्मणेष्वेव यत् मुख्यं कर्म, ये च श्रेष्ठा आदर्शकर्माणि, तन्मे शृणु।”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharma-instruction: the Wind-god is about to enumerate the foremost ‘karma’ (duties/exemplary conduct) specifically associated with Brahmins, implying that social and ethical order depends on each varṇa upholding its highest responsibilities.
In Bhishma’s narration to Yudhishthira, Kartavīrya Arjuna falls silent; Vāyu resumes speaking and invites the king to hear further about the principal duties of Brahmins, continuing the didactic dialogue.