Shloka 23
एवं यद्यप्यनिष्टेषु वर्तते सर्वकर्मसु । सर्वथा ब्राह्मुणो मान्यो दैवतं विद्धि तत्परम्,इस प्रकार यद्यपि ब्राह्मण सब प्रकारके अनिष्ट कर्मोमें लगा हो तो भी वह सर्वथा माननीय है। उसे परम देवता समझो
evaṁ yady apy aniṣṭeṣu vartate sarvakarmasu | sarvathā brāhmaṇo mānyo daivataṁ viddhi tatparam ||
Bhishma said: “Even if a Brahmin is found engaged in every kind of undesirable action, he is still to be honored in every way. Know him as a divinity—indeed, as the highest object of reverence.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts an uncompromising norm of honoring the Brahmin as a sacred authority, presenting reverence to the Brahmin as a paramount dharmic duty even when the individual’s conduct appears blameworthy.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma continues giving prescriptive guidance, emphasizing the sanctity and social-religious status of Brahmins as objects of reverence.