Shloka 39
अतिथीनां च सर्वेषां प्रेष्याणां स्वजनस्य च । तथा शरणकामानां गोप्ता स्यात् स्वागतप्रद:
atithīnāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ preṣyāṇāṃ svajanasya ca | tathā śaraṇakāmānāṃ goptā syāt svāgatapradaḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Seorang yang benar dan luhur hendaklah menjadi pelindung serta penyambut yang pemurah bagi semua tetamu, bagi para pembantu rumah, bagi kaum kerabatnya, dan juga bagi mereka yang mencari perlindungan. Cita etika yang diajarkan di sini ialah keramahan yang disertai tanggungjawab: menerima orang lain dengan hormat dan memastikan keselamatan mereka apabila mereka bergantung kepada kita.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should uphold dharma by protecting and warmly receiving those who depend on one’s care—guests, household workers, one’s own kin, and especially people seeking refuge. Hospitality is not merely courtesy; it includes guardianship and responsibility.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues advising on righteous conduct. Here he states a normative rule for the satpuruṣa (good person): to be a protector and giver of welcome to guests, dependents, relatives, and refuge-seekers.