Shloka 20
गवां लोकवर्णनं तथा गोप्रदानफलश्रुतिः
Description of the ‘World of Cows’ and the Stated Fruits of Cow-Gift
वेदान्तनिष्ठस्य बहुश्रुतस्य प्रज्ञानतृप्तस्य जितेन्द्रियस्य । शिष्टस्य दान्तस्य यतस्य चैव भूतेषु नित्यं प्रियवादिनश्वल
vedāntaniṣṭhasya bahuśrutasya prajñānatṛptasya jitendriyasya | śiṣṭasya dāntasya yatasya caiva bhūteṣu nityaṁ priyavādinaś ca ||
Bhishma sprach: „Man soll gewiss für den Lebensunterhalt jenes Brahmanen sorgen, der im Vedānta fest gegründet ist, weit gelehrt, durch Weisheit gesättigt und die Sinne bezwungen hat; der gebildet und diszipliniert ist, sich dem rechten Bemühen weiht und stets freundlich zu allen Wesen spricht. Die Lehre betont die Pflicht der Gemeinschaft, einen haushaltenden Brahmanen von vorbildlichem Wandel zu stützen — sanft, friedvoll, gastfreundlich, unparteiisch und dem Dharma treu selbst unter dem Druck des Hungers — damit Tugend und Wissen in der Welt erhalten bleiben.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Society (especially rulers and householders) should ensure the livelihood of a brāhmaṇa who embodies learning, Vedānta-oriented wisdom, self-control, gentle speech, and impartial goodwill—because sustaining such exemplary conduct sustains dharma itself.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he describes the qualities of an ideal brāhmaṇa and states that one should make proper provision for his subsistence, highlighting reciprocal obligations between the virtuous and the community.