ब्राह्मणपूजा-राजधर्मः | Royal Duty of Honoring Learned Brahmins
शिष्यस्नेहेन भगवंस्त्वं मां रक्षितुमर्हसि । एकशेष: कृतो वंशो मम तै: पापकर्मभि:
śiṣyasnehena bhagavaṁs tvaṁ māṁ rakṣitum arhasi | ekaśeṣaḥ kṛto vaṁśo mama taiḥ pāpakarmabhiḥ ||
भगवन्! मी आपला शिष्य आहे; शिष्यावरील गुरूच्या सहज स्नेहाने आपण माझे रक्षण करावे. त्या पापकर्म्यांनी माझ्या वंशात फक्त मला एकट्यालाच शिल्लक ठेवले आहे.
भीष्म उवाच
The verse highlights the ethical duty embedded in the guru–śiṣya relationship: a teacher’s spontaneous affection (śiṣyasneha) implies responsibility to protect and guide the disciple, especially when the disciple is vulnerable and without support.
Bhishma addresses a revered teacher-figure, identifying himself as the disciple and pleading for protection. He explains the urgency by stating that wrongdoers have devastated his family line, leaving him as the sole remaining member.