Shloka 40
अहिंसयित्वा ब्रह्महत्याविधानम् / Brahmahatyā incurred without physical violence
तारयेत कुलं सर्वमेको5पीह द्विजोत्तम: । किमज़ पुनरेवैते तस्मात् पात्रं समाचरेत्
tārayet kulaṁ sarvam eko 'pīha dvijottamaḥ | kim aṅga punar evaite tasmāt pātraṁ samācaret || (tṛpte tṛptāḥ sarve devāḥ pitaro munayo 'pi ca) ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Un seul brāhmane d’exception, ici même, peut délivrer toute une lignée. Que dire alors si plusieurs brāhmanes de cette trempe sont présents ! C’est pourquoi il faut rechercher avec soin et honorer un récipiendaire digne. Quand un tel homme est satisfait, tous les dieux, les ancêtres et les sages sont tenus pour satisfaits.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that in śrāddha and gifting, the ethical focus should be on choosing a truly worthy recipient (pātra). The merit of the rite is amplified by the recipient’s worthiness: satisfying such a brāhmaṇa is treated as satisfying the gods, ancestors, and sages, thereby benefiting the whole lineage.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma, including the conduct and efficacy of śrāddha. Here he emphasizes that even one exemplary brāhmaṇa can ‘save’ a family line through proper reception of offerings, so one must diligently seek a fit person for the rite.