Shloka 22
Puruṣaikatva-vyākhyāna: The One Virāṭ Puruṣa and the Many ‘Puruṣas’
Rudra–Brahmā Saṃvāda
मानना तु द्विजातीनां कर्तव्या वै महात्मनाम्,“नृपश्रेष्ठ! तुम्हें महात्मा ब्राह्मणोंका सदा ही समादर करना चाहिये। अवश्य ही यह उनकी तपस्याका फल है; जिससे तुम आकाशसे सहसा भ्रष्ट होकर पातालमें चले आये हो
mānanā tu dvijātīnāṁ kartavyā vai mahātmanām | nṛpaśreṣṭha! tvayā mahātmabrāhmaṇānāṁ sadā samādaraḥ kartavyaḥ | avaśyaṁ hi tad eṣāṁ tapasyāphalam, yena tvaṁ ākāśāt sahasā bhraṣṭaḥ pātāle prāptaḥ ||
द्विजातीनां तु मानना कर्तव्या वै महात्मनाम्। नृपश्रेष्ठ! सदा ब्राह्मणान् महात्मनः समर्चय। एष नूनं तपसां फलम्—येन त्वं दिवः सहसा भ्रष्टः पातालं नीतः।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king should consistently honor the twice-born—especially Brahmins—because their spiritual discipline (tapas) carries real moral and social power; neglecting or opposing them can lead to downfall, while honoring them supports righteous rule (dharma).
Bhishma addresses a king and explains that the king’s sudden fall from the sky into the netherworld is the consequence of the Brahmins’ ascetic power—implying that their tapas has produced an effect that overpowered the king’s position.