ब्राह्मणेषु च वृत्तिया पितृपैतामहोचिता । तामन्वेहि महाबाहो धर्मस्यैते हि देशिका:
brāhmaṇeṣu ca vṛttiyā pitṛpaitāmaho citā | tām anvehi mahābāho dharmasyāite hi deśikāḥ ||
Bhishma sprach: „O Starkarmiger, folge dem altehrwürdigen Verhalten gegenüber den Brahmanen, wie es dein Vater und dein Großvater übten. Denn diese Brahmanen sind die Lehrer und Wegweiser des Dharma.“
भीष्म उवाच
Maintain proper, traditional conduct toward Brahmanas, following the exemplary practice of one’s ancestors, because Brahmanas are regarded as authoritative guides in matters of dharma.
In Bhishma’s extended instruction on righteous conduct (Anushasana Parva), he addresses a kshatriya listener and urges him to emulate his forefathers’ respectful treatment of Brahmanas, grounding this counsel in their role as teachers of dharma.