Shloka 30
अन्नदान-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Gift of Food) | Annadāna-Praśaṃsā
यदि नो ब्राह्मणास्तात संत्यजेयुरपूजिता: । पश्यन्तो दारुणं कर्म सततं क्षत्रिये स्थितम्
yadi no brāhmaṇās tāta saṃtyajeyur apūjitāḥ | paśyanto dāruṇaṃ karma satataṃ kṣatriye sthitam ||
Bhīṣma sprach: „Mein Kind, wenn unsere Brāhmaṇas — ohne Ehrung gelassen — uns verlassen würden, weil sie den harten und unablässigen Handlungsweg sehen, der stets im kṣatriyahaften Wesen verankert ist, dann (wären Ordnung und Wohlergehen in Gefahr).“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma stresses that brāhmaṇas must be duly honoured; if they are neglected, they may withdraw their support. Since kṣatriya life involves severe, forceful duties, the stabilizing presence of respected brāhmaṇas is implied as essential for ethical governance and social balance.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma, he warns his listener that brāhmaṇas, if left unhonoured, could abandon the community after witnessing the continual harsh actions associated with kṣatriya conduct—highlighting tension between necessary royal force and the need for priestly counsel and legitimacy.