Shloka 18
Adhyāya 59: On Giving to the Asker and Supporting the Non-asking (याचक-अयाचक-दाने धर्मः)
बाढमेवं करिष्यामि काम त्वत्तो महामुने । ब्रह्मभूतं कुलं मे5स्तु धर्मे चास्य मनो भवेत्
bāḍham evaṁ kariṣyāmi kāma tvatto mahāmune | brahmabhūtaṁ kulaṁ me 'stu dharme cāsya mano bhavet ||
राजा बोले—“बहुत अच्छा, मैं वैसा ही करूँगा। परन्तु, महामुने! मैं आपसे एक वर माँगता हूँ—मेरा कुल ब्राह्मण-स्वभाव वाला हो जाए और उसका मन सदा धर्म में लगा रहे।”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse values inner qualification over mere birth: Bhīṣma seeks that his family embody brahminical virtues—self-restraint, purity, and commitment to dharma—showing that ethical character is the true foundation of a noble lineage.
Bhīṣma agrees to comply with what has been asked of him, but then petitions the sage for a boon: that his clan become ‘brahmabhūta’ (Brahmin-like in conduct) and remain steadfastly oriented toward dharma.