Shloka 256
वृद्धाय भारतप्ताय गर्भिण्यै दुर्बलाय च । ब्राह्मण, गाय, राजा, वृद्ध पुरुष, गर्भिणी स्त्री, दुर्बल और भारपीड़ित मनुष्य यदि सामनेसे आते हों तो स्वयं किनारे हटकर उन्हें जानेका मार्ग देना चाहिये
vṛddhāya bhārataptāya garbhiṇyai durbalāya ca | brāhmaṇa-gāva-rājānaḥ vṛddha-puruṣā garbhiṇī-strī durbalo bhāra-pīḍitaś ca manuṣyaḥ yadi sāmane āgaccheyuḥ, tadā svayaṃ kināre hatvā tebhyo gantum mārgaṃ dātavyaḥ ||
Bhishma teaches that one should practice courtesy as a form of dharma: if an aged person, one afflicted by hardship, a pregnant woman, a weak person, or those worthy of special regard—such as a Brahmin, a cow, or a king—approach from the front, one should step aside and give them the way. The ethic is not merely social politeness but a disciplined recognition of vulnerability, sanctity, and public order, expressed through yielding space and priority to those who deserve protection or honor.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Yielding the path is presented as a practical expression of dharma: one should step aside and give precedence to those who are vulnerable (elderly, pregnant, weak, burdened) and those traditionally held in special honor (Brahmin, cow, king).
In the Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on righteous conduct (ācāra). This verse gives a concrete rule of everyday behavior—how to act when meeting others on the road—linking courtesy with moral duty.