Shloka 2
पात्रलक्षण-परिक्षा (Pātra-Lakṣaṇa Parīkṣā) — Criteria for a Worthy Recipient
एते भोगैरलड्कारैरन्यैश्वैव किमिच्छकै: । सदा पूज्या नमस्कारै रक्ष्याश्व॒ पितृवन्नूपै:
ete bhogair alaṅkārair anyaiś caiva kim icchakaiḥ | sadā pūjyā namaskāraiḥ rakṣyāś ca pitṛvan nṛpaiḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : « De quoi auraient-ils besoin — jouissances, parures, ou tout autre bien désiré ? Il faut toujours les honorer par des salutations, et les rois doivent les protéger comme on protège son propre père. »
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that certain venerable persons should not be approached primarily through material gifts or pleasures; rather, they deserve continual reverence (namaskāra) and active protection by rulers, with the same seriousness as one protects one’s own father.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on conduct and duties, Bhīṣma addresses the kingly obligation to uphold dharma by honoring and safeguarding those who are worthy of special respect, emphasizing reverence and protection over material inducements.