येषां वृद्धश्न बालश्न सर्व: सम्मानमरहति । तपोविद्याविशेषात्तु मानयन्ति परस्परम्
yeṣāṁ vṛddhaśna bālaśna sarvaḥ sammānam arhati | tapovidyāviśeṣāt tu mānayanti parasparam ||
ব্ৰাহ্মণসকলৰ মাজত বৃদ্ধ হওক বা শিশু—সকলেই সন্মানৰ যোগ্য; কিন্তু তপস্যা আৰু বিদ্যাৰ বিশেষত্ব অনুসাৰে তেওঁলোকে পৰস্পৰক অধিক মান দিয়ে।
भीष्म उवाच
Everyone within the Brahmin community is intrinsically worthy of respect regardless of age; nevertheless, special esteem is accorded based on demonstrable excellence in tapas (discipline/austerity) and vidyā (learning), making virtue and knowledge the ethical criteria for higher honor.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (Anushasana Parva), he explains norms of social reverence: Brahmins should be honored universally, and among themselves they mutually recognize and honor greater spiritual discipline and learning.