Shloka 131
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
अहं च पूजयिष्ये त्वां समित्रगणबान्धवम् | जीवितस्य प्रदातारं कृतज्ञ: को न पूजयेत्
ahaṃ ca pūjayiṣye tvāṃ samitragaṇabāndhavam | jīvitasya pradātāraṃ kṛtajñaḥ ko na pūjayet ||
میں بھی تمہاری—تمہارے دوستوں اور قرابت داروں سمیت—ہمیشہ تعظیم و تکریم کروں گا۔ شکر گزار انسان ایسا کون ہے جو اپنے جان بخشنے والے کی تعظیم نہ کرے؟
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds kṛtajñatā (gratitude) as a central ethical duty: one should honor and repay benefactors—especially the ‘giver of life’—since remembering and revering received help is integral to dharma.
Bhishma, speaking in the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, declares his intention to honor the addressed person publicly and fully—extending respect to that person’s friends and relatives—framing such reverence as the natural act of a grateful person.