ब्राह्मणपूजा-राजधर्मः | Royal Duty of Honoring Learned Brahmins
तमुवाच कृपाविष्टो भृगुर्थर्मभूतां वर:
tam uvāca kṛpāviṣṭo bhṛgur dharmabhūtāṁ varaḥ
Dahil sa pag-udyok ng habag, nagsalita sa kaniya ang pantas na si Bhṛgu—ang pinakadakila sa mga nananatili sa dharma—at itinakda ang diwang moral ng mga susunod na pangyayari.
भीष्म उवाच
The verse foregrounds the proper emotional ground for dharma-instruction: compassion (kṛpā) joined with moral authority. Ethical counsel is presented as most effective and legitimate when it arises from empathy rather than harshness or pride.
Bhīṣma reports that the sage Bhṛgu, stirred by compassion, begins to speak to a person previously mentioned (“him”). This functions as a transition into Bhṛgu’s forthcoming guidance, marking him as a foremost authority on dharma.