Shloka 12
उपवासविधि-प्रश्नः
Inquiry into the Discipline of Fasting
भ्रातृणामविभक्तानामुत्थानमपि चेत् सह | न पुत्रभागं विषमं पिता दद्यात् कदाचन,यदि भाइयोंके हिस्सेका बटवारा न हुआ हो और सबने साथ-ही-साथ व्यापार आदिके द्वारा धनकी उन्नति की हो, उस अवस्थामें यदि पिताके जीते-जी सब अलग होना चाहें तो पिताको उचित है कि वह कभी किसीको कम और किसीको अधिक धन न दे अर्थात् वह सब पुत्रोंको बराबर-बराबर हिस्सा दे
bhrātṝṇām avibhaktānām utthānam api cet saha | na putrabhāgaṁ viṣamaṁ pitā dadyāt kadācana ||
Bhīṣma said: “When brothers have not yet divided their shares and have together increased the family wealth through joint effort, then—even if, while the father is still alive, they wish to separate—the father should never allot unequal portions to his sons. He ought to give them equal shares.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
In a joint (undivided) family where brothers have jointly increased wealth, the father must not create inequality at the time of separation; he should allot equal shares to all sons, upholding fairness and preventing partiality.
Bhīṣma is instructing on dharma related to household and inheritance norms: if sons who have lived and prospered together seek partition during the father’s lifetime, the father’s duty is to distribute property without favoritism, ensuring equal portions.