युधिष्ठिर उवाच के पूज्या वै त्रिलोकेऽस्मिन् मानवा भरतर्षभ। विस्तरेण तदाचक्ष्व न हि तृप्यामि कथ्यतः॥
Yudhishthira said What men, O chief of Bharata's race are worthy of homage in the three worlds? Tell me this in detail, I am never satiated with hearing you describe these topics.
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। नारदस्य च संवादं वासुदेवस्य चोभयोः॥
Bhishma said Regarding it is cited the old discourse between Narada and Vasudeva.
नारदं प्राञ्जलिं दृष्ट्वा पूजयानं द्विजर्षभान्। केशवः परिपप्रच्छ भगवन् कान् नमस्यसि॥ बहुमानपरस्तेषु भगवन् यान् नमस्यसि। शक्यं चेच्छ्रोतुमस्माभिर्बुह्येतद् धर्मवित्तम॥
Seeing Narada on one occasion adoring many foremost of Brahmanas with joined hands, Keshava addressed him, saying Whom do you worship? Whom amongst these Brahmanas, O holy one, do you worship with so great respect? If it is capable of being heard by me, I wish then to hear it. Do O foremost of righteous men, tell me this.
नारद उवाच शृणु गोविन्द यानेतान् पूजयाम्यरिमर्दन। त्वत्तोऽन्यः कः पुमाल्लोके श्रोतुमेतदिहार्हति॥
Narada said Hear, O Govinda, as to who those are whom I am adoring, Ogrinder of enemies What other person is there in the world who is worthier than you to hear this?
वरुणं वायुमादित्यं पर्जन्यं जातवेदसम्। स्थाणुं स्कन्दं तथा लक्ष्मी विष्णुं ब्रह्माणमेव च॥
I adore them o powerful one, who constantly worship Varuna and Vayu and Aditya, and Parjanya and the deity of Fire and Sthanu and Skanda and Lakshmi and Vishnu and the Brahmanas, and the lord of speech, and the Moon, and the Waters, and the Earth and the goddess Sarasvati,
वाचस्पतिं चन्द्रमसमपः पृथ्वी सरस्वतीम्। सततं ये नमस्यन्ति तान् नमस्याम्यहं विभो॥ तपोधनान् वेदविदो नित्यं वेदपरायणान्। महार्हान् वृष्णिशार्दूल सदा सम्पूजयाम्यहम्।।८
O foremost of Vrishni's race, I always adore those Brahmanas who are are endued with penances, who are conversant with the Vedas who are always given to Vedic study, and who are possessed of great worth.
अभुक्त्वा देवकार्याणि कुर्वते येऽविकत्थनाः। संतुष्टाश्च क्षमायुक्तास्तान् नमस्याम्यहं विभो॥
O powerful one, I bow down my head to those persons who are freed from boastfulness, who perform with an empty stomach, the rites in honour of the deities, who are always contended with what they have, and who are gifted with forgiveness.
सम्यग् यजन्ति ये चेष्टीः क्षान्ता दान्ता जितेन्द्रियाः। सत्यं धर्मे क्षितिं गाश्च तान् नमस्यामि यादव।॥
I adore them, O Yadava, who are performers of sacrifices, who are forgiving in nature, and selfcontrolled, who are masters of their own senses, who worship truth and virtue, and who give away land and kine to good Brahmanas.
ये वै तपसि वर्तन्ते वने मूलफलाशनाः। असंचयाः क्रियावन्तस्तान् नमस्यामि यादव॥
I bow to them, O Yadava, who are devoted to the observance of penances, who live in forests, who live upon fruits and roots who never store anything for the morrow, and who perform all the acts and rites laid down in the scriptures.
ये भृत्यभरणे शक्ताः सततं चातिथिव्रताः। भुञ्जते देवशेषाणि तान् नमस्यामि यादव।॥
I bow to them, O Yadava, who feed and cherish their servants who are always hospitable to guests and who eat only the residue of what is offered to the deities.
ये वेदं प्राप्य दुर्धर्षा वाग्मिनो ब्रह्मचारिणः। याजनाध्यापने युक्ता नित्यं तान् पूजयाम्यहम्॥
I worship them who have become irresistible by studying the Vedas, who are eloquent in discoursing on the scriptures, who are observant of the vow of Brahmacharya, and who are always devoted to the duties of officiating at the sacrifices of others and of teaching disciples.
प्रसन्नहृदयाश्चैव सर्वसत्त्वेषु नित्याः। आपृष्ठतापात् स्वाध्याये युक्तास्तान् पूजयाम्यहम्।।१४
I adore them that are endued with mercy towards all creatures and who study the Vedas till their back are heated by the Sun.
गुरुप्रसादे स्वाध्याये यतन्तो ये स्थिरव्रताः। शुश्रूषवोऽनसूयन्तस्तान् नमस्यामि यादव॥
I bow to them, O Yadava, who try to acquire the grace of their preceptors, who labour in the acquisition of their Vedas, who are firm in the observance of vows, who wait with dutiful obedience, upon their preceptors and seniors, and who are free from malice and envy.
सुव्रता मुनयो ये च ब्राह्मणाः सत्यसंगराः। वोढारो हव्यकव्यानां तान् नमस्यामि यादव॥
I bow to them, O Yadava, who are observant of excellent vows, who practise silence, who have knowledge of Brahma, who are firm in truth, who are givers of libations of clarified butter and oblations of meat.
भैक्ष्यवर्यासु निरताः कृशा गुरुकुलाश्रयाः। निर्धना ये तु तान् नमस्यामि यादव।॥
I bow to them, O, Yadava, who live upon elemosynary alms, who are emaciated for want of adequate food and drink, who have lived in the houses of their preceptors, who are averse to and destitute of all enjoyments and who are poor in Earthly possessions.
निर्ममा निष्प्रतिद्वन्द्वा निहीका निष्प्रयोजनाः। ये वेदं प्राप्य दुर्धर्षा वाग्मिनो ब्रह्मवादिनः॥
I bow to them, O Yadava, who have no affection for things of this Earth, who do not quarrel with others, who do not clothe themselves, who have no wants, who have become irresistible through the acquisition of the Vedas, eloquent in the exposition of virtue, and that are utterers of Brahma.
अहिंसानिरता ये च ये च सत्यव्रता नराः। दान्ताः शमपराश्चैव तान् नमस्यामि केशव॥ निःसुखा
I bow to them who are given to the practice of the duty of mercy towards all creatures who are firm in the observance of truth, who are self controlled, and who are peaceful in their conduct.
देवतातिथिपूजायां युक्ता ये गृहमेधिनः। कपोतवृत्तयो नित्यं तान् नमस्यामि यादव॥
I bow to them, O Yadava who are devoted to the worship of gods and guests, who are observant of the domestic mode of life and that follow the practice of pigeons about collecting their food.
येषां त्रिवर्गः कृत्येषु वर्तते नोपहीयते। शिष्टाचारप्रवृत्ताश्च तान् नमस्याम्यहं सदा॥
I always bow to those persons, who while doing all their works have an eye on the threefold objects of life, and who are observant of truth and righteous behaviour.
ब्राह्मणाः श्रुतसम्पन्ना ये त्रिवर्गमनुष्ठिताः। अलोलुपाः पुण्यशीलास्तान् नमस्यामि केशव॥
I bow to them, O Keshava, who are conversant with Brahma, who are gifted with knowledge of the Vedas, who are attentive to the threefold objects of life, who are free from cupidity, and who are righteous in their behaviour.
अब्भक्षा वायुभक्षाश्च सुधाभक्षश्च ये सदा। व्रतैश्च विविधैर्युक्तास्तान् नमस्यामि माधव॥
I bow to them, O Madhava, who live upon water only, or upon air alone, or upon the residue of the food that is offered to deities and guests, and who practise all sorts of excellent VOWS.
अयोनीनग्नियोनींश्च ब्रह्मयोनींस्तथैव च। सर्वभूतात्मयोनींश्च तान् नमस्याम्यहं सदा॥
I always adore them who have no wives, who have wives and the domestic fire, who are the refuge of the Vedas, and who are the refuge of all creatures in the universe.
नित्यमेतान् नमस्यामि कृष्ण लोककरानृषीन्। लोकज्येष्ठान् कुलज्येष्ठांस्तमोघ्नॉल्लोकभास्करान्॥
I always bow to those Rishis. O Krishna, who are the creators of the universe, who are the elders of the universe, who are the eldest members of the race or the family, who are dispellers of the darkness of ignorance, and who are the best of all persons in the universe.
तस्मात् त्वमपि वार्ष्णेय द्विजान् पूजय नित्यदा। पूजिताः पूजनार्हा हि सुखं दास्यन्ति तेऽनघ।॥
For these reasons, do you also O scion of Vrishni's race, adore every day those twiceborn persons of whom I speak. Worthy as they are of reverent worship, they will when adored confer happiness on you, O sinless one,
अस्मिल्लोके सदा ह्येते परत्र च सुखप्रदाः। चरन्ते मान्यमाना वै प्रदास्यन्ति सुखं तव।॥
Those persons of whom I speak are always givers of happiness in this world as well as in the next. Respected by all, they move about in this world, and, if adored by you are sure to grant you happiness.
ये सर्वातिथयो नित्यं गोषु च ब्राह्मणेषु च। नित्यं सत्ये चाभिरता दुर्गाण्यतितरन्ति ते॥
They who are hospitable to all persons who come to them as guests, and who are always devoted to Brahmanas and kine as also to truth succeed in crossing all calamities and impediments.
नित्यं शमपरा ये च तथा ये चानसूयकाः। नित्यस्वाध्यायिनो ये च दुर्गाण्यतितरन्ति ते॥
They who are always devoted to peacefulness of conduct as also they who are shorn of malice and envy, and they who are always attentive to the study of the Vedas, succeed in crossing all calamities and impediments.
सर्वान् देवान् नमस्यन्ति ये चैकं वेदमाश्रिताः। श्रद्दधानाश्च दान्ताश्च दुर्गाण्यतितरन्ति ते॥
They who bow to all the deities, they who follow one Veda as their refuge, they who are possessed of faith and are self controlled, succeed in crossing all calamities and impediments.
तथैव विप्रप्रवरान् नमस्कृत्य यतव्रताः। भवन्ति ये दानरता दुर्गाण्यतितरन्ति ते॥
They who adore the foremost of Brahmanas with reverence and are firm in the observance of excellent vows and practise the virtue of charity succeed in crossing all calamities and impediments.
तपस्विनश्च ये नित्यं कौमारब्रह्मचारिणः। तपसा भावितात्मानो दुर्गाण्यतितरन्ति ते॥
They who are engaged in the practice of penances, they who are always observant of the vow of celibacy, and they whose souls have been purified by penances, succeed in crossing all calamities and impediments.
देवतातिथिभृत्यानां पितॄणां चार्चने रताः। शिष्टान्नभोजिनो ये च दुर्गाण्यतितरन्ति ते॥
The who are devoted to the worship of the gods and guests and dependants as also of the departed manes and they who eat the residue of the food that is offered to deities departed manes guests and dependants succeed in crossing all calamities and impediments.
अग्निमाधाय विधिवत् प्रणता धारयन्ति ये। प्राप्ताः सोमाहुतिं चैव दुर्गाण्यतितरन्ति ते॥
They who, having lighted the domestic fire, duly keep it burning and adore it with reverence, and they who have duly poured libations in Somasacrifices, succeed in crossing all calamities and impediments.
मातापित्रोणुरुषु च सम्यग् वर्तन्ति ये सदा। यथा त्वं वृष्णिशार्दूलेत्युक्त्वैवं विरराम सः॥
They who behave properly towards their mothers and fathers and preceptors and other elders even as you, O foremost of the Vrishnis, do behave, (succeed in crossing all calamities and impediments)! Having said these words the celestial Rishi ceased speaking.
भीष्म उवाच तस्मात् त्वमपि कौन्तेय पितृदेवद्विजातिथीन्। सम्यक् पूजयसे नित्यं गतिमिष्टामवाप्स्यसि॥
Bhishma continued For these reasons, do you also, O son of Kunti, always adore with reverence the deities the departed manes the Brahmanas and guests arrived at your palace, and as the outcome of such conduct you are to acquire a desirable end! sure the departed manes the Brahmanas and guests arrived at your palace, and as the outcome of such conduct you are to acquire a desirable end! sure