Shloka 26
च्यवन-कुशिक-संवादः
Cyavana–Kuśika Dialogue on Hospitality, Service, and Lineage Questions
तावपि स्वाविव सुतौ संस्कार्याविति निश्चय: । क्षेत्रजो वाप्यपसदो ये<वध्यूढास्तेषु चाप्युत
tāv api svāv iva sutau saṃskāryāv iti niścayaḥ | kṣetrajō vāpy apasado ye ’vadhyūḍhās teṣu cāpy uta ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Pour ces deux sortes de fils également, la conclusion faisant autorité est qu’ils doivent recevoir les saṃskāra comme s’ils étaient les siens. En effet, qu’un fils soit kṣetraja (né du “champ”), apasada (de statut mêlé ou irrégulier) ou avadhyūḍha (reçu par un arrangement matrimonial particulier), les śāstra prescrivent qu’il reçoive lui aussi les saṃskāra appropriés. En matière de rites liés au varṇa, telle est la décision que l’on voit dans les dharma-śāstra. Je t’ai tout exposé ; que veux-tu entendre encore ?»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That dharmaśāstra recognizes certain categories of sons (including kṣetraja, apasada, and avadhyūḍha) and, despite their differing origins or social classification, enjoins that they receive the appropriate saṃskāras—rites that confer social-religious standing and duties—treating them, for ritual purposes, like one’s own.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he concludes a discussion on classifications of offspring and their eligibility for rites, stating the śāstric determination and asking what further topic the listener wishes to hear.