Shloka 23
अन्नदान-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Gift of Food) | Annadāna-Praśaṃsā
एते न बहु मन्यन्ते न प्रवर्तन्ति चापरे । पुत्रवत् परिपाल्यास्ते नमस्तेभ्यस्तथाभयम्
ete na bahu manyante na pravartante cāpare | putravat paripālyās te namas tebhyaḥ tathābhayam ||
قال بهيشما: «هؤلاء (من البراهمة) لا يعظّمون المكاسب الدنيوية، وبعضهم لا ينخرط أصلاً في مساعي الاكتساب. فمثل هؤلاء البراهمة ينبغي أن يُحمَوا ويُعَالوا كما يُرعى الأبناء. سلامٌ عليهم مرةً بعد مرة؛ ومن جهتهم لا ينبغي أن يكون لنا خوف.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Those who are genuinely detached and not driven by acquisition—especially Brahmins devoted to restraint—should be supported and protected like one’s own children; reverence toward such virtue is itself a dharmic duty.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma, he describes a class of Brahmins who do not show special regard for donors and may not even pursue wealth; he urges the listener to maintain them with filial care and to honor them, emphasizing that such people are not a threat but a moral safeguard.