Shloka 2
Adhyāya 90 — Protection of Livelihoods, Brahmanical Subsistence Norms, and Royal Oversight (राष्ट्रवृत्ति-राष्ट्रगुप्ति-उपदेशः)
ब्राह्मणेभ्योडतिरिक्तं च भुज्जीरन्नितरे जना: । न ब्राह्मणापराधेन हरेदन्य: कथंचन
bhāhmaṇebhyo 'tiriktaṃ ca bhuñjīrann itare janāḥ | na brāhmaṇāparādhena hared anyaḥ kathaṃcana ||
ब्राह्मणों को यथोचित दे देने के बाद जो शेष बचे, उसी का उपभोग अन्य लोग करें। ब्राह्मण का अपराध करके—अर्थात् जो उसका देय भाग न देकर—कोई भी किसी प्रकार उसका अंश न हरण करे।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should first fulfill what is due to Brahmanas; only the remainder may be used by others. Appropriating what ought to go to a Brahmana is treated as a moral offence (brāhmaṇāparādha) and is prohibited.
In the Shanti Parva’s dharma-instruction, Bhishma lays down a rule of rightful enjoyment and distribution: social consumption is legitimate only after the prescribed recipients (here, Brahmanas) have been properly provided for, and no one should seize their due share.