Shloka 18
Adhyāya 9: Pratiśruta-Dāna
The Duty to Fulfill Promised Gifts
न हर्तव्यं विप्रधन क्षन्तव्यं तेषु नित्यश: । बालाश्व नावमन्तव्या दरिद्रा: कृपणा अपि
na hartavyaṃ vipradhanaṃ kṣantavyaṃ teṣu nityaśaḥ | bālāś ca nāvamantavyā daridrāḥ kṛpaṇā api ||
Bhishma enseña que jamás debe robarse la riqueza de un brahmán. Aun si los brahmanes incurren en faltas, debe mantenerse siempre hacia ellos una disposición al perdón. Incluso cuando sean niños, pobres o dignos de compasión, no han de ser tratados con desprecio: el respeto y la contención son exigencias del dharma.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not appropriate a brāhmaṇa’s property; maintain forgiveness toward brāhmaṇas even when they err; never despise them even if they are young, poor, or pitiable—dharma requires restraint, reverence, and forbearance.
In the Anuśāsana-parvan’s instruction section, Bhīṣma is delivering ethical guidance on righteous conduct, emphasizing social and moral duties toward brāhmaṇas, including non-stealing, patience, and avoidance of contempt.