Shloka 2
Adhyāya 90 — Protection of Livelihoods, Brahmanical Subsistence Norms, and Royal Oversight (राष्ट्रवृत्ति-राष्ट्रगुप्ति-उपदेशः)
ब्राह्मणेभ्योडतिरिक्तं च भुज्जीरन्नितरे जना: । न ब्राह्मणापराधेन हरेदन्य: कथंचन
bhāhmaṇebhyo 'tiriktaṃ ca bhuñjīrann itare janāḥ | na brāhmaṇāparādhena hared anyaḥ kathaṃcana ||
Bhishma dijo: «Que los demás disfruten sólo de lo que quede después de haber provisto debidamente a los brahmanes. Nadie debe, cometiendo una ofensa contra un brahmán—esto es, reteniendo lo que se le debe—arrebatar esa parte de modo alguno».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should first fulfill what is due to Brahmanas; only the remainder may be used by others. Appropriating what ought to go to a Brahmana is treated as a moral offence (brāhmaṇāparādha) and is prohibited.
In the Shanti Parva’s dharma-instruction, Bhishma lays down a rule of rightful enjoyment and distribution: social consumption is legitimate only after the prescribed recipients (here, Brahmanas) have been properly provided for, and no one should seize their due share.