Shloka 13
Dāna–Tapaḥ Praśaṃsā and Gṛhastha-Upadeśa
Maitreya
अकरोत् पृथिवीं राजन् यज्ञयूपशताड्किताम् | ततः सालोक्यमगमद् ब्रह्माणो ब्रद्मृवित्तम:
akārot pṛthivīṁ rājan yajñayūpaśatāṅkitām | tataḥ sālokyam agamad brahmaṇo brahmavid-uttamaḥ ||
Bhīṣma nói: “Tâu Đại vương, nó đã ghi dấu mặt đất bằng hàng trăm cột tế lễ. Rồi sau đó, trở thành bậc tối thượng trong hàng người biết Brahman, nó đạt đến cảnh giới đồng trú với Phạm Thiên.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links disciplined righteous action (many yajñas symbolized by ‘hundreds of yūpas’) with inner spiritual culmination: the highest fruit is not merely ritual merit but becoming a brahmavid—one who knows Brahman—and attaining the divine realm (Brahmaloka/sālokya), pointing toward realization of the eternal Brahman.
Bhīṣma recounts an exemplum: a being from a lowly former state (‘that former creature’) gains rare brahminhood as per Vyāsa’s account, performs extensive sacrifices across the earth, and ultimately—surpassing mere ritual status—becomes foremost among knowers of Brahman and attains Brahmā’s realm (Brahmaloka), culminating in realization of the eternal Brahman.