Shloka 4
Brāhmaṇa-pūjā, Haviḥ-dāna, and the Vāsudeva–Pṛthivī Saṃvāda
Chapter 34
बहुमानपरस्तेषु भगवन् यान् नमस्यसि । शव्यं चेच्छोतुमस्माभिर््रह्वेतद् धर्मवित्तम
bhīṣma uvāca | bahumānaparas teṣu bhagavan yān namasyasi | śavyaṃ cec chrotum asmābhir rahv etad dharmavittama ||
Sabi ni Bhīṣma: “O kagalang-galang, kanino mo iniuukol ang dakilang paggalang—yaong mga pinagbubukuran mo mismo? Kung mamarapatin mong marinig namin, O nakaaalam ng dharma, ihayag mo ang malalim na bagay na ito at ipakilala ang mga taong karapat-dapat igalang.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharmic humility: even the revered seek guidance about whom to honor. It frames reverence (namas) as an ethical act grounded in discernment—learning who truly deserves respect and why.
Bhishma addresses the sage Narada, asking him to identify the exalted persons for whom Narada feels deep respect and to whom he bows. Bhishma requests, if appropriate, that Narada reveal this ‘profound matter’ and introduce those venerable figures.