Shloka 17
अहिंसयित्वा ब्रह्महत्याविधानम् / Brahmahatyā incurred without physical violence
भीष्म उवाच आदिष्टिनो ये राजेन्द्र ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगा: । भुज्जते ब्रह्म॒कामाय व्रतलुप्ता भवन्ति ते
bhīṣma uvāca | ādiṣṭino ye rājendra brāhmaṇā vedapāragāḥ | bhuñjate brahmakāmāya vrataluptā bhavanti te ||
भीष्म म्हणाले—राजेन्द्र! जे ‘आदिष्टी’ ब्राह्मण वेदपारंगत असून गुरूच्या आज्ञेने ठरावीक काळ ब्रह्मचर्य-व्रतात बांधलेले असतात, ते जर यजमानाची ब्राह्मणांना दान देण्याची इच्छा पूर्ण व्हावी म्हणून श्राद्धात भोजन करतात, तर त्यांचे स्वतःचे व्रत भंग पावते; दोष भोगणाऱ्याचा, दात्याच्या दानाचा नाही.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A disciplined vow (vrata), especially brahmacarya under a teacher’s injunction, must not be compromised for social convenience. Even if a patron wishes to complete a rite by feeding Brahmins, the vow-holder must protect his own dharma; ethical responsibility is tied to one’s own observance, not merely to pleasing others.
Bhishma instructs the king about ritual and conduct: certain Brahmins (ādiṣṭin students under strict brahmacarya) should not eat in a śrāddha setting just to fulfill the patron’s desire to donate. If they do, their personal vow is considered lapsed—highlighting boundaries between donor’s rite and the recipient’s discipline.