Shloka 31
मातापितृगुरुपूजा-प्रशंसा
Praise of Venerating Mother, Father, and Teacher
भृतो वृद्धों यो न बिभर्ति पुत्र: स्वयोनिज: पितरं मातरं च । तद् वै पापं भ्रूणहत्याविशिष्टं तस्मान्नान्य: पापकृदस्ति लोके
bhṛto vṛddho yo na bibharti putraḥ svayonijaḥ pitaraṃ mātaraṃ ca | tad vai pāpaṃ bhrūṇahatyāviśiṣṭaṃ tasmān nānyaḥ pāpakṛd asti loke ||
Bila seorang anak kandung—yang telah dipelihara dan dibesarkan—tidak menanggung nafkah dan pemeliharaan ayah serta ibunya, itu adalah dosa besar yang disamakan dengan pembunuhan janin. Di dunia ini tiada pelaku dosa yang lebih tercela darinya॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A grown son who was raised by his parents has a binding dharmic obligation to support them materially and practically; neglecting this duty is condemned as an extremely grave sin, equated with foeticide, underscoring the seriousness of filial responsibility.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma is teaching Yudhishthira about ethical duties in household and social life, emphasizing the paramount importance of caring for one’s parents.