Shloka 4
Adhyāya 166: Kṛtaghna-doṣa (कृतघ्नदोषः) — the fault of ingratitude and the limits of expiation
सर्वरत्नानि राजा हि यथाईँ प्रतिपादयेत् । ब्राह्मणा एव वेदाश्व यज्ञाश्व बहुदक्षिणा: । अन्योन्यं विभवाचारा यजन्ते गुणत: सदा
sarvaratnāni rājā hi yathārhaṃ pratipādayet | brāhmaṇā eva vedāś ca yajñāś ca bahudakṣiṇāḥ | anyonyaṃ vibhavācārā yajante guṇataḥ sadā |
ビーシュマは言った。王は、受ける者の器にふさわしく、あらゆる宝玉の贈り物を授けるべきである。なぜならバラモンこそ、ヴェーダと祭祀—多くのダクシナーを伴うその儀礼—の体現だからである。彼らは各々の資力に応じて生活と務めを整え、常に互いに結び合って、真の功徳と卓越を備えた祭祀を執り行う。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches rāja-dharma regarding dāna: a ruler should give valuable gifts appropriately (yathārham), recognizing that supporting learned Brāhmaṇas sustains Vedic study and the performance of yajñas, which uphold social and moral order.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on governance and ethics. Here he emphasizes the king’s duty to honor and support Brāhmaṇas with fitting gifts, since they maintain Vedic knowledge and conduct sacrifices—often collectively and according to their means.