Shloka 87
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
अथ देवा: समागम्य विष्णुमूचु: प्रजापतिम् । एको यो<हति मर्त्येंभ्य: श्रैष्ल्यं वैतं समादिश
atha devāḥ samāgamya viṣṇum ūcuḥ prajāpatiṃ | eko yo 'hati martyebhyaḥ śraiṣṭhyaṃ vaitaṃ samādiśa ||
अथ देवाḥ समागम्य विष्णुमूचुः प्रजापतिम्—मर्त्येषु कः एकोऽतिशयेन श्रेष्ठः? तं नः स्पष्टं समादिश।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical inquiry: true ‘foremost-ness’ among humans is not assumed but must be discerned and authoritatively defined, implying that excellence is grounded in recognized standards (dharma/virtue) rather than mere power or status.
Bhīṣma recounts that the gods gather and question Viṣṇu (addressed as Prajāpati), asking him to identify and declare who is the most excellent among mortals.