Shloka 12
उपवासविधि-प्रश्नः
Inquiry into the Discipline of Fasting
भ्रातृणामविभक्तानामुत्थानमपि चेत् सह | न पुत्रभागं विषमं पिता दद्यात् कदाचन
bhrātṝṇām avibhaktānām utthānam api cet saha | na putrabhāgaṁ viṣamaṁ pitā dadyāt kadācana ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Apabila saudara-saudara belum membahagi bahagian masing-masing dan bersama-sama menambah kekayaan keluarga melalui usaha bersama, maka—walaupun ketika bapa masih hidup mereka ingin berpisah—bapa jangan sekali-kali memperuntukkan bahagian yang tidak sama kepada anak-anak lelakinya. Hendaklah diberi bahagian yang sama rata.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
In a joint (undivided) family where brothers have jointly increased wealth, the father must not create inequality at the time of separation; he should allot equal shares to all sons, upholding fairness and preventing partiality.
Bhīṣma is instructing on dharma related to household and inheritance norms: if sons who have lived and prospered together seek partition during the father’s lifetime, the father’s duty is to distribute property without favoritism, ensuring equal portions.