येषां वृद्धश्न बालश्न सर्व: सम्मानमरहति । तपोविद्याविशेषात्तु मानयन्ति परस्परम्
yeṣāṁ vṛddhaśna bālaśna sarvaḥ sammānam arhati | tapovidyāviśeṣāt tu mānayanti parasparam ||
Dijo Bhīṣma: Entre los brahmanes, ya sea anciano o aún niño, cada cual es digno de honor. Con todo, dentro de su comunidad se honran especialmente unos a otros en proporción a la excelencia en austeridad y saber—reconociendo la disciplina espiritual y el conocimiento como las verdaderas medidas de distinción.
भीष्म उवाच
Everyone within the Brahmin community is intrinsically worthy of respect regardless of age; nevertheless, special esteem is accorded based on demonstrable excellence in tapas (discipline/austerity) and vidyā (learning), making virtue and knowledge the ethical criteria for higher honor.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (Anushasana Parva), he explains norms of social reverence: Brahmins should be honored universally, and among themselves they mutually recognize and honor greater spiritual discipline and learning.