Shloka 131
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
अहं च पूजयिष्ये त्वां समित्रगणबान्धवम् | जीवितस्य प्रदातारं कृतज्ञ: को न पूजयेत्
ahaṃ ca pūjayiṣye tvāṃ samitragaṇabāndhavam | jīvitasya pradātāraṃ kṛtajñaḥ ko na pūjayet ||
నేనూ నిన్ను—నీ మిత్రవర్గం, బంధువులతో సహా—గౌరవించి పూజిస్తాను. కృతజ్ఞుడైన వాడు తన ప్రాణదాతను ఎవడు పూజించడు?
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds kṛtajñatā (gratitude) as a central ethical duty: one should honor and repay benefactors—especially the ‘giver of life’—since remembering and revering received help is integral to dharma.
Bhishma, speaking in the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, declares his intention to honor the addressed person publicly and fully—extending respect to that person’s friends and relatives—framing such reverence as the natural act of a grateful person.