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 |
Bhishma dijo: «Tras sopesar cuidadosamente todos los medios posibles, debe sostenerse y restaurarse el orden establecido y la continuidad del propio linaje. Aunque sea mayor en años, quien queda fuera de las clases de los “dos veces nacidos” es tenido por inferior a un brāhmaṇa, un kṣatriya o un vaiśya; por ello debe entregarse al servicio de las tres varṇas superiores y mantenerse firme en la generosidad.»
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.