Shloka 17
अन्नदान-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Gift of Food) | Annadāna-Praśaṃsā
विद्यास्नाता व्रतस्नाता ये व्यपाश्रित्य जीविन: । गूढस्वाध्यायतपसो ब्राह्मणा: संशितव्रता:
bhīṣma uvāca | vidyāsnātā vratāsnātā ye vyapāśritya jīvinaḥ | gūḍhasvādhyāyatapaso brāhmaṇāḥ saṃśitavratāḥ |
Bhishma dit : «Ô Yudhishthira, il est des brahmanes purifiés par le savoir et par les vœux, qui vivent sans se mettre à l’abri (sans dépendre) des riches, qui tiennent cachés leur étude sacrée et leurs austérités, et qui demeurent fermes dans des observances rigoureuses. Tout soutien et tout honneur que tu accordes à de tels hommes, purs et maîtres d’eux-mêmes, satisfaits de leur épouse légitime, deviendra pour toi une source de bien en ce monde.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s welfare is strengthened by honoring and supporting truly disciplined Brahmins—those refined by learning and vows, self-reliant (not living by dependence on the rich), inwardly devoted (keeping study and austerity unadvertised), and morally restrained. Aid given to such people is portrayed as especially meritorious and auspicious for the ruler.
In the Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and kingly duties. Here he identifies a class of exemplary Brahmins and tells Yudhishthira that whatever he does for their support and honor will bring him well-being—framing patronage as an ethical responsibility guided by discernment of character.