Shloka 14
उपवासविधि-प्रश्नः
Inquiry into the Discipline of Fasting
दशाचार्यानुपाध्याय उपाध्यायान् पिता दश
daśācāryān upādhyāyaḥ, upādhyāyān pitā daśa; gauraveṇa daśa pitṝn atikrāmati mātā; mātā hi svagauraveṇa pṛthivīm api tiraskaroti; tasmān mātṛsamo nānyo guruḥ.
Bhīṣma berkata: “Seorang guru pembimbing (upādhyāya) lebih bernilai daripada sepuluh guru; seorang bapa lebih bernilai daripada sepuluh upādhyāya; dan seorang ibu mengatasi bahkan sepuluh bapa dalam kemuliaan. Dengan kebesarannya sendiri, seorang ibu dapat mengatasi bahkan seluruh bumi. Maka, tiadalah guru yang setara dengan ibu.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse ranks sources of guidance and authority, culminating in the mother as the highest object of reverence; it teaches that gratitude, service, and respect toward one’s mother are central to dharma.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising on righteous conduct, emphasizing the ethical priority of honoring parents—especially the mother—above other revered teachers.