Shloka 29
Brāhmaṇa-vandana: Criteria for Veneration, Disciplined Speech, and Protective Kingship (अनुशासनपर्व, अध्याय ८)
पितेव पुत्रान् रक्षेथा ब्राह्म॒णान् धर्मचेतस: । गृहे चैषामवेक्षेथा: किंस्विदस्तीति जीवनम्
pitā iva putrān rakṣethā brāhmaṇān dharmacetasāḥ | gṛhe ca eṣām avekṣethāḥ kiṃ svid astīti jīvanam ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Seperti seorang ayah melindungi putra-putranya, demikianlah raja harus melindungi para Brāhmaṇa yang berjiwa dharma. Ia pun hendaknya mengawasi rumah tangga mereka: apakah ada bekal penghidupan, apakah ada kekurangan, agar tiada yang luput dari perhatian.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma includes paternal protection and practical support of righteous Brahmins—ensuring not only their safety but also that their households have adequate means of livelihood.
In Bhishma’s instruction on governance and dharma, he tells the king to treat dharma-minded Brahmins like his own children: protect them and regularly check whether their homes have what they need to live.