Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 38
वृद्धानां भारतप्तानां स्त्रीणां चक्रधरस्य च । ब्राह्मणानां गवां राज्ञां पन्थानं ददते च ये
vṛddhānāṃ bhārataptānāṃ strīṇāṃ cakradharasya ca | brāhmaṇānāṃ gavāṃ rājñāṃ panthānaṃ dadate ca ye ||
ಭೀಷ್ಮನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ವೃದ್ಧರಿಗೆ, ಭಾರದಿಂದ ಕಂಗೆಟ್ಟವರಿಗೆ, ಸ್ತ್ರೀಯರಿಗೆ, ಚಕ್ರಧಾರಿಗೆ (ರಥ/ಗಾಡಿ ನಡೆಸುವವನಿಗೆ), ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣರಿಗೆ, ಹಸುಗಳಿಗೆ ಮತ್ತು ರಾಜನಿಗೆ ದಾರಿ ಬಿಡುವವರು ವಿನೀತ ಸತ್ಪುರುಷರೆಂದು ಎಣಿಸಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತಾರೆ; ಲೋಕಾಚಾರವೂ ಧರ್ಮವೇ.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is shown through everyday conduct: one should yield the path and show deference to elders, the burdened, women, Brahmins, cows, and rulers. Courtesy and protection of the vulnerable and revered are treated as marks of a sādhū (virtuous person).
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction on righteous behavior, Bhishma enumerates practical signs of good character. Here he lists categories of people (and sacred/socially honored beings) to whom one should give way on the road, presenting civic respect as a component of dharma.