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Shloka 31

पात्रलक्षण-परिक्षा (Pātra-Lakṣaṇa Parīkṣā) — Criteria for a Worthy Recipient

एतां श्रुत्वोपमां पार्थ प्रयतो ब्राह्मणर्षभान्‌ । सतत पूजयेथास्त्वं तत: श्रेयोडभिपत्स्यसे

etāṁ śrutvopamāṁ pārtha prayato brāhmaṇarṣabhān | satataṁ pūjayethās tvaṁ tataḥ śreyo 'bhipatsyase, kuntīnandana ||

భీష్ముడు పలికెను—హే పార్థా! ఈ ఉపమారూప ఉపదేశాన్ని విని, శుద్ధనిశ్చయంతో ఎల్లప్పుడూ శ్రేష్ఠ బ్రాహ్మణులను పూజించుము. అలా చేసినచో, హే కుంతీనందనా, నీవు నిశ్చయంగా పరమ శ్రేయస్సును పొందుదువు.

एताम्this (her/this one) / this (example)
एताम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
श्रुत्वाhaving heard
श्रुत्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु (धातु)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)
उपमाम्comparison; illustration; example
उपमाम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootउपमा
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
पार्थO Partha (son of Pritha)
पार्थ:
TypeNoun
Rootपार्थ
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
प्रयतःself-controlled; purified; attentive
प्रयतः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रयत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
ब्राह्मणर्षभान्the best of Brahmins
ब्राह्मणर्षभान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण-ऋषभ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
सततम्always; continually
सततम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसतत
पूजयेथाःyou should worship/honor
पूजयेथाः:
TypeVerb
Rootपूज् (धातु)
FormVidhi-linga (optative), Present-system, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada
त्वम्you
त्वम्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयुष्मद्
Form—, Nominative, Singular
ततःtherefore; then; from that
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
श्रेयःwelfare; the good; highest good
श्रेयः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootश्रेयस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अभिपत्स्यसेyou will attain/obtain
अभिपत्स्यसे:
TypeVerb
Rootअभि-√पद् (धातु)
FormLṛṭ (simple future), Future, Second, Singular, Atmanepada
कुन्तीनन्दनO son of Kunti
कुन्तीनन्दन:
TypeNoun
Rootकुन्ती-नन्दन
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
A
Arjuna (Partha, Kuntinandana)
B
Brahmins (brāhmaṇarṣabhāḥ)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches that continual, sincere honoring of exemplary Brahmins—done with self-restraint and purity—leads to śreyas, i.e., true welfare and auspicious spiritual benefit.

Bhishma, instructing Arjuna in Anushasana Parva, concludes an illustrative example (upamā/dṛṣṭānta) by urging Arjuna to maintain a steady practice of reverence toward worthy Brahmins as part of righteous conduct.