Shloka 9
धुरि ये नावसीदन्ति विषये सदगवा इव । पितृदेवातिथिमुखा हव्यकव्याग्रभोजिन:
dhuri ye nāvasīdanti viṣaye sadgavā iva | pitṛdevātithimukhā havyakavyāgrabhojinaḥ ||
ビーシュマは言った。「世の務めという責任の軛の下で沈まず、たじろがぬ者—重荷を負っても決して怠らぬ良き牛のように—ダルマの重荷を担っても苦しみを覚えない。そのような人々は、あたかも神々と祖霊と客人の『口』となり、神々への供物（havya）であれ祖先への供物（kavya）であれ、供え物の初分を受ける第一の資格を得るのである。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steadfastness in bearing one’s responsibilities—especially the practical burdens of dharma in worldly life—is a mark of the truly virtuous. Such people become foremost beneficiaries of religious merit and social honor, symbolized by receiving the first portions in offerings to gods and ancestors and by being central to hospitality.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (Anuśāsana Parva), he praises those who do not falter under duty. Using the image of strong oxen under a yoke, he describes exemplary householders/virtuous persons as primary recipients in ritual and hospitality—metaphorically the ‘mouths’ through which gods, ancestors, and guests are served.