Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 37
तीर्थवंशोपदेशः
Tīrtha-vaṃśa Upadeśa: Instruction on the Fruits of Sacred Waters
पुण्याहवाचनं दैवं ब्राह्मणस्य विधीयते । एतदेव निरोड्कार क्षत्रियस्य विधीयते
puṇyāhavācanaṃ daivaṃ brāhmaṇasya vidhīyate | etad eva niroḍkāra kṣatriyasya vidhīyate ||
ভীষ্ম বললেন— ব্রাহ্মণের জন্য দেবকর্ম ‘পুণ্যাহবাচন’—মঙ্গল আহ্বান ও আশীর্বচন—রূপে বিধেয়; আর ক্ষত্রিয়ের ক্ষেত্রে এই একই উদ্দেশ্য ‘নিরোড্কার’ দ্বারাই সম্পন্ন হয়।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that dharma is role-sensitive: the same sacred aim is pursued through different prescribed means—benedictory ritual speech for Brāhmaṇas and a forceful, martial form of consecration for Kṣatriyas—each aligned with their social-ethical duty.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on conduct and duties. Here he contrasts the appropriate religious/ceremonial observances for different varṇas, emphasizing that prescriptions vary according to one’s station and responsibilities.