Shloka 42
Adhyāya 270 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on saṃnyāsa; Bhīṣma on calculable time, tamas, and karma
Vṛtra–Uśanā exemplum begins
समागम्य स तेनाथ पूजां चक्रे यथाविधि । ब्राह्मण: कुण्डधारस्य विस्मितश्चवाभवन्नूप
samāgamya sa tenātha pūjāṃ cakre yathāvidhi | brāhmaṇaḥ kuṇḍadhārasya vismitaś cābhavannṛpa bharatanandana ||
毗湿摩说道：与他相会之后，那婆罗门便依照所规定的仪轨，如法供奉并礼敬俱ṇḍadhāra。噢，大王，婆罗多族之欢喜者！婆罗门一见俱ṇḍadhāra，便大为惊异——那是因亲眼触及苦行之果、并感受二人之间善意之力而生的敬畏与震撼。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic conduct in the presence of spiritual attainment: when one encounters evident tapas and virtue, the proper response is humble reverence and worship according to prescribed norms, recognizing ethical and spiritual excellence rather than reacting with pride or skepticism.
Kuṇḍadhāra grants direct audience/appearance; the Brahmin meets him, performs formal worship as per ritual propriety, and is struck with amazement upon seeing him—signaling the extraordinary nature of the encounter and the perceived potency of ascetic merit.