Shloka 4
ब्राह्मणपूजा-राजधर्मः | Royal Duty of Honoring Learned Brahmins
स केन कर्मणा प्राप्तो ब्राह्म॒ण्यं राजसत्तम: । वरेण तपसा वापि तन््मे व्याख्यातुमरहसि
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: sa kena karmaṇā prāpto brāhmaṇyaṁ rājasattama? vareṇa tapasā vāpi tan me vyākhyātum arhasi, he nṛpaśiromaṇe.
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “O pinakamainam sa mga hari, sa anong gawa (karma) mo natamo ang kalagayang Brahmana? Nakamit ba ito sa pamamagitan ng isang biyaya, o sa pamamagitan ng mahigpit na pag-aayuno at pagninilay (tapasya)? O hiyas sa korona ng mga pinuno, ipaliwanag mo ito sa akin nang ganap.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharmic inquiry into the basis of spiritual and social status: whether Brahminhood is achieved by meritorious action, by divine boon, or by austerity—implying that inner qualification and the means of attainment matter, not mere birth or title.
Yudhiṣṭhira respectfully questions a foremost king about how he came to possess Brahminhood, asking for a detailed account of the cause—deed, boon, or ascetic practice—setting up an explanatory story or teaching that follows.