Shloka 20
गवां लोकवर्णनं तथा गोप्रदानफलश्रुतिः
Description of the ‘World of Cows’ and the Stated Fruits of Cow-Gift
वेदान्तनिष्ठस्य बहुश्रुतस्य प्रज्ञानतृप्तस्य जितेन्द्रियस्य । शिष्टस्य दान्तस्य यतस्य चैव भूतेषु नित्यं प्रियवादिनश्वल
vedāntaniṣṭhasya bahuśrutasya prajñānatṛptasya jitendriyasya | śiṣṭasya dāntasya yatasya caiva bhūteṣu nityaṁ priyavādinaś ca ||
Bhīṣma said: One should certainly provide for the livelihood of that brāhmaṇa who is steadfast in Vedānta, widely learned, satisfied through wisdom, self-controlled; who is cultured and disciplined, devoted to right effort, and who always speaks kindly to all beings. The teaching emphasizes society’s duty to support a householder-brāhmaṇa of exemplary conduct—gentle, peaceful, hospitable, impartial, and committed to dharma even under the pressure of hunger—so that such virtue and learning may be sustained in the world.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Society (especially rulers and householders) should ensure the livelihood of a brāhmaṇa who embodies learning, Vedānta-oriented wisdom, self-control, gentle speech, and impartial goodwill—because sustaining such exemplary conduct sustains dharma itself.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he describes the qualities of an ideal brāhmaṇa and states that one should make proper provision for his subsistence, highlighting reciprocal obligations between the virtuous and the community.