Shloka 6
Vipulopākhyāna—Ruci-rakṣā and Śakra’s Māyā (विपुलोपाख्यानम्—रुचिरक्षणं शक्रमाया च)
भीष्म उवाच ऋतच्विक् पुरोहिताचार्या: शिष्यसम्बन्धिबान्धवा: । सर्वे पूज्याश्व मान्याश्व श्रुतवन्तो5नसूयका:
bhīṣma uvāca | ṛtvijaḥ purohitācāryāḥ śiṣya-sambandhi-bāndhavāḥ | sarve pūjyāś ca mānyāś ca śrutavanto 'nasūyakāḥ ||
Bhishma said: “The officiating priests, the household priest, and the teachers; likewise one’s students, relatives, and kinsmen—indeed all who are learned and free from fault-finding—are to be honored and treated with respect.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should honor those who uphold and transmit dharma—priests and teachers, as well as relational supports like students, relatives, and kinsmen—especially when they are learned and free from a habit of blaming others. Respect is presented as a moral duty grounded in both role (service to dharma) and character (non-envious, non-censorious conduct).
In the Anushasana Parva, Bhishma continues his instruction on right conduct. Here he enumerates categories of people who are to be treated as pūjya and mānya—worthy of reverence and esteem—thereby laying down a practical guideline for ethical social behavior.