Shloka 28
Adhyāya 9: Pratiśruta-Dāna
The Duty to Fulfill Promised Gifts
महद्धि भरतश्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणस्तीर्थमुच्यते । वेलायां न तु कस्यांचिद् गच्छेद् विप्रो हपूजित:
mahaddhi bharataśreṣṭha brāhmaṇas tīrtham ucyate | velāyāṃ na tu kasyāñcid gacched vipro hy apūjitaḥ ||
हे भरतश्रेष्ठ, ब्राह्मणाला महान तीर्थ असे म्हटले जाते. म्हणून कोणत्याही वेळी ब्राह्मणाला सत्कार न करता जाऊ देऊ नये; तो आला की यथोचित मान देऊनच निरोप द्यावा.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A Brāhmaṇa is to be regarded as a ‘living tīrtha’—a source of sanctity and merit. Hence, one should never let a Brāhmaṇa leave without proper honor, reception, and respectful treatment.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct. Here he emphasizes the ethical duty of hospitality: whenever a Brāhmaṇa arrives, he should be duly honored and not dismissed without respect.