Shloka 28
Adhyāya 270 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on saṃnyāsa; Bhīṣma on calculable time, tamas, and karma
Vṛtra–Uśanā exemplum begins
भीष्म उवाच ततस्तदेव बहुश: कुण्डधारो महायशा: । अभ्यासमकरोद् धर्मे ततस्तुष्टास्तु देवता:,भीष्मजी कहते हैं--युधिष्ठि!! मणिभद्रके ऐसा कहनेपर भी महायशस्वी कुण्डधारने बार-बार अपनी वही बात दुहरायी। ब्राह्मणका धर्म बढ़े, इसीके लिये आग्रह किया। इससे सब देवता संतुष्ट हो गये
bhīṣma uvāca tatastadeva bahuśaḥ kuṇḍadhāro mahāyaśāḥ | abhyāsamakarod dharme tatastuṣṭāstu devatāḥ ||
Sinabi ni Bhishma: “Pagkaraan, ang tanyag na si Kundadhara ay paulit-ulit na pinagtibay ang gayon ding pahayag. Nagpumilit siya upang mapalakas ang dharma ng isang brahmana; at dahil sa kanyang matatag na paninindigan, nalugod ang mga diyos.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steadfast insistence on dharma—especially the proper duty and ethical discipline associated with a brahmin—wins divine approval; persistence in righteousness is itself meritorious.
After a prior exchange, Kundadhara reiterates his position repeatedly, urging what he sees as the increase/strengthening of brahminical dharma; his unwavering emphasis results in the gods becoming satisfied.