Shloka 12
Dāna–Tapaḥ Praśaṃsā and Gṛhastha-Upadeśa
Maitreya
भीष्म उवाच भगवद्धचनातू् कीटो ब्राद्ाण्यं प्राप्प दुर्लभम्
bhīṣma uvāca—bhagavad-vacanāt tu kīṭo brāhmaṇyaṁ prāpya durlabham; (sa) pṛthivīṁ śataśo yajñayūpair aṅkitavān. tadanantaram brahmavettṝṇāṁ śreṣṭhaḥ san brahma-sālokyaṁ prāptaḥ, brahmalokaṁ gatvā sanātanaṁ brahma prāpnoti.
毗湿摩说道：“大王啊，依尊者毗耶娑之所述，那曾经不过是虫豸的生灵，竟得到了难得的婆罗门之位。随后他以数百祭柱遍标大地，举行宏大的祭祀。继而在诸知梵者中为最胜，得与梵天同界之住处——抵达梵天界（Brahmaloka），证悟永恒的梵（Brahman）。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even one of the lowest origins (a former ‘worm’) can, through accumulated merit, right conduct, and ultimately Brahman-knowledge, rise to the highest spiritual attainment—showing the Mahabharata’s emphasis on transformation through dharma and realization.
Bhishma recounts Vyasa’s authoritative tradition: a being formerly a worm attains rare brahmin status, performs many great sacrifices (symbolized by hundreds of yajña-posts across the earth), and then surpasses ritual merit by becoming a foremost knower of Brahman, reaching Brahmaloka and realizing the eternal Brahman.