Shloka 6
गोमूल्यनिर्णयः — The Determination of Value through the Cow
Nahuṣa–Cyavana Episode
सर्वानिपायानथ सम्प्रधार्य समुद्धरेत् स्वस्य कुलस्य तन््त्रम् । ज्येष्ठो यवीयानपि यो द्विजस्य शुश्रूषया दानपरायण: स्यात्
sarvān upāyān atha sampradhārya samuddharet svasya kulasya tantram | jyeṣṭho yavīyān api yo dvijasya śuśrūṣayā dānaparāyaṇaḥ syāt |
Bhīṣma said: “Having carefully weighed every possible means, one should uphold and restore the established order and continuity of one’s own lineage. Even if he is older in years, one who stands outside the twice-born classes is regarded as junior to a Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, or Vaiśya; therefore he should devote himself to serving the three higher varṇas and be steadfast in generosity.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should preserve and uplift one’s family tradition through prudent, well-considered means, and practice dharma through service and generosity—especially emphasizing śuśrūṣā (respectful service) and dāna (charity) as stabilizing virtues within the social order described.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues advising on righteous conduct. Here he frames guidance about maintaining lineage and proper social duties, stating that those outside the dvija classes are treated as junior to the three varṇas and should therefore support them through service and charitable disposition.