Shloka 19
Brāhmaṇa-mahattva and Atithi-Dharma
Brahmagītā: Praise of Brāhmaṇas and norms of honor
शरणागतं न त्यजेयमिति मे व्रतमाहितम् | न मुज्चति ममाड्नि द्विजो<यं पश्य वै द्विज,विहंगम! मैं शरणागतका त्याग नहीं कर सकता--यह मेरा व्रत है। देखो, यह पक्षी भयके मारे मेरे अंगोंको छोड़ नहीं रहा है
śaraṇāgataṃ na tyajeyam iti me vratam āhitam | na muñcati mamāṅgāni dvijo 'yaṃ paśya vai dvija-vihagāma ||
قال بهيشما: «لقد ثبت نذري رسوخًا: لن أتخلى عمّن لجأ إليّ طالبًا الحماية. انظر—هذا الطائر، وقد استولى عليه الفزع، لا يترك أطرافي.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds śaraṇāgata-rakṣaṇa (protecting one who seeks refuge) as a binding ethical vow: dharma is shown not merely as theory but as a commitment that must be honored even under pressure.
Bhīṣma declares that he cannot abandon a frightened bird that has taken shelter with him; the bird clings to his body in fear, and Bhīṣma points this out as evidence of its dependence and his duty to protect it.