Shloka 38
Go-dāna-phala-nirdeśa
Merit and Destinations from the Gift of Cows
प्रत्यक्ष हि तथा होतद् ब्राह्म॒णेषु तपस्विषु । बिभेति हि यथा शक्रो ब्रह्मचारिप्रधर्षित:
pratyakṣaṃ hi tathā hotad brāhmaṇeṣu tapasviṣu | bibheti hi yathā śakro brahmacāripradharṣitaḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：“此事在苦行的婆罗门中确可亲见：正如坚固的梵行者进逼之时，连释迦（因陀罗）也会心生畏惧。梵行之果，在诸仙圣之间于此显然可见。现在也请听我说，那由敬奉母亲、父亲及诸长者而生的法（dharma）。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Brahmacarya and tapas generate palpable spiritual power and moral authority—so potent that even Indra is said to fear a brahmacārin’s righteous force; Bhīṣma then pivots to another foundational dharma: reverence and service to parents and elders.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma (Anuśāsana Parva), he cites an illustrative claim about ascetic brāhmaṇas: the fruit of brahmacarya is visibly evident, exemplified by Indra’s fear when confronted by a brahmacārin; he then transitions to teaching about the merit of worshiping/serving mother, father, and elders.