Shloka 7
Chapter 84: Brahmā’s Counsel on Tāraka, the Search for Agni, and the Genesis of Skanda
Kārttikeya
ऋषीणामुत्तमं धीमान् कृष्णद्वैपायनं शुक: । अभिवाद्याह्विककृतः शुचि: प्रयतमानस:
Bhīṣma uvāca: Ṛṣīṇām uttamaṁ dhīmān Kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaṁ Śukaḥ | abhivādyāhvikakṛtaḥ śuciḥ prayatamānasaḥ, niṣpāpa nareśa! asmin viṣaye ’haṁ te purāṇaṁ vṛttāntaṁ śrāvayiṣyāmi | ekadā paramabuddhimān Śukadevaḥ nityakarmaṇo ’nuṣṭhānaṁ kṛtvā pavitraḥ śuddhacitto bhūtvā pitaram—ṛṣīṇām uttamaṁ Śrī-Kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaṁ Vyāsaṁ, yaḥ lokasya bhūta-bhaviṣyaṁ pratyakṣaṁ paśyati—praṇamya papraccha: “pitāḥ! sarveṣu yajñeṣu kaḥ yajñaḥ śreṣṭhatamaḥ dṛśyate?”
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “O haring walang kasalanan, isasalaysay ko sa iyo ang isang sinaunang pangyayari tungkol dito. Minsan, ang napakatalinong si Śukadeva—matapos ganapin ang kanyang pang-araw-araw na mga ritwal, maging dalisay, at may disiplinadong diwa—ay lumapit sa kanyang ama, ang pinakadakilang rishi na si Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana Vyāsa, na sinasabing tuwirang nakakakita ng nagdaan at darating sa daigdig. Pagkatapos yumukod, nagtanong si Śuka: ‘Ama, sa lahat ng mga yajña, alin ang kinikilalang pinakamataas?’”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames dharma as something to be approached through disciplined practice (daily rites, purity of mind) and humble inquiry to a qualified teacher; it prepares the ground for evaluating which forms of yajña (sacred duty/sacrifice) are truly ‘highest’ in ethical and spiritual terms.
Bhishma tells the king he will recount an ancient episode: Śukadeva, after completing his daily observances, respectfully bows to his father Vyāsa and asks a doctrinal question—among all sacrifices, which is considered the श्रेष्ठतम (highest).