ज्येष्ठ-कनिष्ठ-धर्मः — Duties of Elders and Juniors
Anuśāsana-parva 108
नरश्रेष्ठ) माता-पिता और गुरुजनोंकी आज्ञाका अविलम्ब पालन करना चाहिये। इनकी आज्ञा हितकर है या अहितकर, इसका विचार नहीं करना चाहिये ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | narāśreṣṭha, mātā-pitarau ca gurujanānāṃ ca ājñāyā avilambaṃ pālanaṃ kartavyam | eṣām ājñā hitakarī vā ahitakarī veti vicāro na kartavyaḥ || dhanurvede ca vede ca yatnaḥ kāryo narādhipa | hastipṛṣṭhe aśvapṛṣṭhe ca rathacaryāsu caiva ha || nareśvara, kṣatriyeṇa dhanurveda-vedādhyayanayoḥ kṛte yatnaḥ kartavyaḥ | rājendra, tvaṃ hastyaśva-vāhana-kalāyāṃ ratha-hākanāyāṃ ca nipuṇatāṃ prāptuṃ prayatnasva; yataḥ yatnavān puruṣaḥ sukhena unnatiśīlo bhavati, sa śatrūṇāṃ svajanānāṃ bhṛtyānāṃ ca durdharṣo bhavati ||
Bhishma dit : «Ô meilleur des hommes, il faut obéir sans délai aux ordres de la mère, du père et des aînés/maîtres. On ne doit pas juger si leur commandement est utile ou nuisible. Et toi, seigneur des hommes, qu’un kshatriya s’applique au Dhanurveda (science de l’arc et des armes) ainsi qu’à l’étude des Veda. Ô roi, efforce-toi d’acquérir la maîtrise de la monte des éléphants et des chevaux, et l’art de mener le char; car l’homme d’effort constant s’élève dans la prospérité, et devient redoutable—pour les ennemis, pour les siens, et même pour ses serviteurs.»
भीष्म उवाच
Immediate obedience to parents and revered elders is presented as a foundational duty, and for a kshatriya, disciplined effort in both sacred learning (Vedic study) and practical martial skills (archery, riding, chariot-driving) is essential; sustained effort leads to prosperity and formidable capability.
Bhishma, in his role as moral instructor, is giving prescriptive counsel on conduct and training: he urges prompt compliance with parental/elder authority and outlines the educational and military disciplines a king or kshatriya should cultivate to become effective and respected.