Shloka 16
युधिष्ठिरप्रश्नः—विश्वामित्रस्य ब्राह्मणत्वकौतूहलम् | Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry on Viśvāmitra’s Attainment of Brāhmaṇya
तस्यैतानि च कर्माणि तथान्यानि च कौरव । क्षत्रियस्येत्यतो जातमिदं कौतूहलं मम
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | tasyaitāni ca karmāṇi tathānyāni ca kaurava | kṣatriyasyety ato jātam idaṃ kautūhalaṃ mama | yo viśvāmitra uttānapādake putra dhruva tathā brahmarṣīṇāṃ (saptarṣīṇāṃ) ca madhye uttaradiśa ākāśam āśritya tārārūpeṇa sadā prakāśitā bhavanti, te kṣatriyā eva rājan | kurunandana! teṣāṃ etāni tathānyāni ca bahūny adbhutakarmāṇi smṛtvā mama hṛdaye jātam etat-jijñāsā-kautūhalaṃ—kathaṃ te brāhmaṇā abhavan?
尤提施提罗说道：“噢，俱卢后裔！追忆他在刹帝利之身时所行的这些功业，以及更多其他事迹，我心中生起深切的好奇。毗湿瓦密多罗与杜鲁瓦——乌塔那帕达之子——在北天诸梵仙（七圣仙）之间安住，化作群星永放光明；他们确是刹帝利。噢，俱卢族的欢欣者！念及他们这些与更多奇异作为，我心渴望得知：他们如何成为婆罗门？”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds a dharmic inquiry: spiritual status (brāhmaṇa-hood in the sense of brahmarṣi attainment) is linked to inner discipline and realized merit, not merely birth. Yudhiṣṭhira’s question sets up reflection on how tapas, conduct, and knowledge can elevate a person beyond their initial social identity.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a Kuru elder/relative and expresses wonder: figures like Viśvāmitra and Dhruva are remembered as kṣatriyas and yet are honored among the Brahmarṣis in the northern heavens as stars. He asks how such kṣatriyas came to be regarded as brāhmaṇas (i.e., attained brahmarṣi stature).