Shloka 40
Go-dāna-phala-nirdeśa
Merit and Destinations from the Gift of Cows
शुश्रूषते यः पितरं न चासूयेत् कदाचन । मातरं भ्रातरं वापि गुरुमाचार्यमेव च
śuśrūṣate yaḥ pitaraṃ na cāsūyet kadācana | mātaraṃ bhrātaraṃ vāpi gurum ācāryam eva ca ||
Bhīṣma said: The man who serves his father and never, at any time, bears envy or fault-finding toward him—who likewise serves his mother, his elder brother, and also his guru and teacher—know the fruit that comes to him, O king. He attains an honored place in heaven; and being self-controlled, through the power of devoted service to the guru, he never beholds hell.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Attentive service to one’s father, mother, elder brother, guru, and teacher—without envy or fault-finding—constitutes a powerful dharmic discipline that yields honor in heaven and protects one from falling into hell, especially when joined with self-control.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs King Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he highlights the spiritual and karmic reward of serving elders and preceptors with a pure, non-censorious attitude, framing it as a path to heavenly honor and freedom from infernal consequences.