Shloka 12
Adhyāya 39 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on attachment (saṅga) and relational restraint
इस कारणको जानकर अर्थात् ब्राह्मणके उपदेशके अनुसार चलना ही अमृत है--इस बातको भलीभाँति समझकर पूर्वकालमें देवासुरसंग्रामको उपस्थित हुआ देख मेरे पिता मन-ही-मन प्रसन्न और विस्मित हुए थे ।।
dṛṣṭvā ca brāhmaṇānāṃ tu mahimānaṃ mahātmanām | paryapṛcchat katham amī siddhā iti niśākaram ||
Nang malaman ang dahilang ito—na ang pagsunod sa aral ng brāhmaṇa ang siyang amṛta—at maunawaan ito nang lubos, noong unang panahon, sa pagkasaksi sa digmaan ng mga diyos at mga asura, ang aking ama ay nagalak at namangha sa loob ng puso. At nang makita niya ang kadakilaan ng mga brāhmaṇa na may dakilang diwa, tinanong niya si Niśākara (ang Buwan): “O Niśākara! Paano nagkamit ng siddhi ang mga brāhmaṇa na ito?”
शम्बर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights reverence for the spiritual power (mahimā) of brāhmaṇas and implies that ‘immortality’ or enduring good is gained by following dharmic instruction—disciplined conduct and adherence to righteous teaching—rather than by mere worldly power.
Śambara recounts that his father, witnessing the extraordinary greatness of noble brāhmaṇas (in the broader setting that recalls the Deva–Asura war), becomes inwardly pleased and amazed, and asks the Moon (Niśākara) how these brāhmaṇas achieved such siddhi.