Shloka 25
Karma-Phala Rahasya and the Ethics of Dāna (कर्मफल-रहस्यं दानधर्मश्च)
येन प्रीणाति पितरं तेन प्रीत: प्रजापति: । प्रीणाति मातरं येन पृथिवी तेन पूजिता
yena prīṇāti pitaraṁ tena prītaḥ prajāpatiḥ | prīṇāti mātaraṁ yena pṛthivī tena pūjitā ||
毗湿摩说道：以何种行持使父亲欢喜，凭此行持，众生之主生主（Prajāpati）亦得欢悦；以何种行持使母亲欢喜，凭此行持，大地女神（Pṛthivī）自身便受敬奉与礼赞。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that pleasing one’s parents is not merely a social virtue but a sacred act: honoring the father pleases Prajāpati (the cosmic lord of progeny and order), and honoring the mother is equivalent to honoring the Earth itself.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira by linking everyday household conduct—especially service to parents—to divine approval and the honoring of foundational cosmic principles.