Shloka 41
Adhyāya 270 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on saṃnyāsa; Bhīṣma on calculable time, tamas, and karma
Vṛtra–Uśanā exemplum begins
ब्राह्मणस्य तपोयोगात् सौहृदेनाभिचोदित:,भरतनन्दन! इतनेहीमें ब्राह्मगकी तपस्याके प्रभावसे तथा उसके प्रति सौहार्दसे प्रेरित होकर कुण्डधारने उसे प्रत्यक्ष दर्शन दिया। उससे मिलकर ब्राह्मणने कुण्डधारकी विधिपूर्वक पूजा की। नरेश्वर! उसे देखकर ब्राह्मणको बड़ा आश्चर्य हुआ
brāhmaṇasya tapoyogāt sauhṛdenābhicoditaḥ, bharatanandana! itenahīme brāhmaṇasya tapasyāḥ prabhāvena tathā tasya prati sauhārdena preritaḥ kuṇḍadhāraṇe tasmai pratyakṣa-darśanaṃ dadau. tena miltvā brāhmaṇena kuṇḍadhārasya vidhipūrvakaṃ pūjā kṛtā. nareśvara! taṃ dṛṣṭvā brāhmaṇo mahad āścaryam avāpa.
ब्राह्मणस्य तपोयोगात् सौहृदेनाभिचोदितः । भरतनन्दन, कुण्डधारः साक्षात् तस्मै दर्शनं ददौ । तं समागम्य ब्राह्मणः कुण्डधारं विधिपूर्वकं पूजयामास । नरेश्वर, तं दृष्ट्वा ब्राह्मणो महद् विस्मयं जगाम ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that disciplined austerity (tapas) coupled with benevolent goodwill (sauhārda) can lead to direct spiritual encounter; it also stresses dharmic conduct through proper, rule-based worship (vidhipūrvaka pūjā) rather than casual or self-willed devotion.
Bhishma narrates that Kundadhara, pleased and prompted by the Brahmin’s ascetic power and friendly disposition, appears before him. The Brahmin then performs a proper ritual honoring of Kundadhara, and the extraordinary sight fills him with amazement.