Shloka 18
गवां लोकवर्णनं तथा गोप्रदानफलश्रुतिः
Description of the ‘World of Cows’ and the Stated Fruits of Cow-Gift
यश्चैनमुत्पादयते यश्चैनं त्रायते भयात् । यश्चास्य कुरुते वृत्तिं सर्वे ते पितरस्त्रय:,जो जन्म देता है, जो भयसे बचाता है तथा जो जीविका देता है--ये तीनों ही पिताके तुल्य हैं
yaś cainam utpādayate yaś cainaṃ trāyate bhayāt | yaś cāsya kurute vṛttiṃ sarve te pitaras trayaḥ ||
Bhishma said: “He who brings a person into being, he who protects him from fear, and he who provides him with the means of livelihood—these three are all to be regarded as fathers.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Fatherhood is defined ethically, not only biologically: the begetter, the protector in times of fear, and the provider of livelihood each deserves the reverence due to a father.
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and proper conduct; here he clarifies who should be honored as a ‘father’ by identifying three roles that sustain a person’s life and security.