Shloka 9
धुरि ये नावसीदन्ति विषये सदगवा इव । पितृदेवातिथिमुखा हव्यकव्याग्रभोजिन:
dhuri ye nāvasīdanti viṣaye sadgavā iva | pitṛdevātithimukhā havyakavyāgrabhojinaḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Ceux qui ne s’enfoncent ni ne vacillent sous le joug des responsabilités dans la vie du monde—comme de bons bœufs qui ne relâchent jamais en portant la charge—ne ressentent aucune peine à porter le fardeau du dharma. De tels hommes deviennent, pour ainsi dire, la “bouche” des dieux, des ancêtres et des hôtes : ils sont les premiers en droit de recevoir les premières parts des offrandes, qu’il s’agisse du havya pour les dieux ou du kavya pour les ancêtres.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steadfastness in bearing one’s responsibilities—especially the practical burdens of dharma in worldly life—is a mark of the truly virtuous. Such people become foremost beneficiaries of religious merit and social honor, symbolized by receiving the first portions in offerings to gods and ancestors and by being central to hospitality.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (Anuśāsana Parva), he praises those who do not falter under duty. Using the image of strong oxen under a yoke, he describes exemplary householders/virtuous persons as primary recipients in ritual and hospitality—metaphorically the ‘mouths’ through which gods, ancestors, and guests are served.