Shloka 45
Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
अतः तुम भी अनशनव्रतसे युक्त होकर सदा ब्राह्मणोंका पूजन करो; क्योंकि ब्राह्मणोंके आशीर्वादसे इह लोक और परलोकमें भी सम्पूर्ण कामनाएँ सिद्ध होती हैं ।।
ataḥ tvam api anāśana-vratena yuktaḥ sadā brāhmaṇānāṁ pūjanaṁ kuru; yasmāt brāhmaṇānām āśīrvādaiḥ iha-loke para-loke ca sarvāḥ kāmanāḥ siddhyanti. vāsobhiḥ annaiḥ gobhiś ca śubhaiḥ eva eṣikaiḥ api; śubhaiḥ sura-gaṇaiḥ api stoṣyā eva dvijāḥ tathā. etad eva paraṁ guhyaṁ dharmam alobhenā samācara; annaṁ vastraṁ gāṁ tathā sundara-gṛhaṁ datvā, kalyāṇakāri-devatā-ārādhanena api, brāhmaṇān eva santōṣayet.
ビーシュマは言った。ゆえに汝もまた断食の誓いを守り、常にバラモンを敬い供養せよ。バラモンの祝福によって、望むところはこの世にも来世にもことごとく成就するからである。衣服や食物や牛、その他の吉祥なる施しを尽くし、また福徳をもたらす神々の群れを礼拝するとしても、なお何より先に「二度生まれし者」（バラモン）を満足させることに努めねばならぬ。貪りを捨て、この最上にして秘奥のダルマを行え—食を施し、衣を施し、牛を施し、さらには良き住まいさえ施し、第一の務めとしてバラモンを喜ばせよ。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that the highest practical religious-ethical priority is to honor and satisfy Brahmins through reverence and gifts, undertaken with freedom from greed; their blessings are said to secure success of aims in both this life and the next.
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma continues his instruction on dharma, emphasizing vows (like fasting), charitable giving (food, clothing, cows, even a house), and the superior merit of pleasing Brahmins—presented as a ‘supremely secret’ guideline for righteous conduct.