Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 51
इत्युक्त्वा सुह्ृद: सर्वान् सम्परिष्वज्य चैव ह । पुनरेवाब्रवीद् धीमान् युधिष्ठिरमिदं वच:
ity uktvā suhṛdaḥ sarvān sampariṣvajya caiva ha | punar evābravīd dhīmān yudhiṣṭhiram idaṃ vacaḥ ||
Having spoken thus, the wise Bhīṣma embraced all his well-wishers. Then, turning again to Yudhiṣṭhira, he addressed him with these words: “Yudhiṣṭhira, you should always honor all Brāhmaṇas in general—and especially the learned, as well as your teachers and the officiating priests.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should consistently show reverence to Brāhmaṇas—particularly the learned—and should never neglect honoring one’s teachers (ācāryas) and officiating priests (ṛtvijas), since such respect upholds dharma and sustains the moral-religious order of society.
After completing a point in his instruction, Bhīṣma affectionately embraces his well-wishers and then resumes his counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira, continuing the Anuśāsana-parvan’s ethical guidance on proper conduct and duties.