Shloka 42
Adhyāya 270 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on saṃnyāsa; Bhīṣma on calculable time, tamas, and karma
Vṛtra–Uśanā exemplum begins
समागम्य स तेनाथ पूजां चक्रे यथाविधि । ब्राह्मण: कुण्डधारस्य विस्मितश्चवाभवन्नूप,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
samāgamya sa tenātha pūjāṃ cakre yathāvidhi | brāhmaṇaḥ kuṇḍadhārasya vismitaś cābhavannṛpa bharatanandana ||
समागम्य स तेनाथ पूजां चक्रे यथाविधि । ब्राह्मणः कुण्डधारस्य विस्मितश्चाभवन्नृप ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic conduct in the presence of spiritual attainment: when one encounters evident tapas and virtue, the proper response is humble reverence and worship according to prescribed norms, recognizing ethical and spiritual excellence rather than reacting with pride or skepticism.
Kuṇḍadhāra grants direct audience/appearance; the Brahmin meets him, performs formal worship as per ritual propriety, and is struck with amazement upon seeing him—signaling the extraordinary nature of the encounter and the perceived potency of ascetic merit.