Shloka 20
गवां लोकवर्णनं तथा गोप्रदानफलश्रुतिः
Description of the ‘World of Cows’ and the Stated Fruits of Cow-Gift
वेदान्तनिष्ठस्य बहुश्रुतस्य प्रज्ञानतृप्तस्य जितेन्द्रियस्य । शिष्टस्य दान्तस्य यतस्य चैव भूतेषु नित्यं प्रियवादिनश्वल
vedāntaniṣṭhasya bahuśrutasya prajñānatṛptasya jitendriyasya | śiṣṭasya dāntasya yatasya caiva bhūteṣu nityaṁ priyavādinaś ca ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Il faut assurément pourvoir aux moyens d’existence de ce brāhmane qui demeure établi dans le Vedānta, vaste d’érudition, rassasié par la sagesse, maître de ses sens ; qui est cultivé et discipliné, appliqué à l’effort juste, et qui parle toujours avec douceur à tous les êtres. L’enseignement rappelle le devoir de la société : soutenir un brāhmane chef de maison à la conduite exemplaire — doux, paisible, hospitalier, impartial, et fidèle au dharma même sous la contrainte de la faim — afin que la vertu et le savoir soient maintenus dans le monde.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Society (especially rulers and householders) should ensure the livelihood of a brāhmaṇa who embodies learning, Vedānta-oriented wisdom, self-control, gentle speech, and impartial goodwill—because sustaining such exemplary conduct sustains dharma itself.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he describes the qualities of an ideal brāhmaṇa and states that one should make proper provision for his subsistence, highlighting reciprocal obligations between the virtuous and the community.