Shloka 20
स्त्रीस्वभावप्रश्नः — Nārada and Pañcacūḍā on Strī-svabhāva
Anuśāsana-parva 38
अशव्यं स्प्रष्टमाकाशमचाल्यो हिमवान् गिरि: | अधार्या सेतुना गड्ढा दुर्जया ब्राह्मणा भुवि,जैसे आकाशको छूना, हिमालयको विचलित करना और बाँध बाँधकर गड्के प्रवाहको रोक देना असम्भव है, उसी प्रकार इस भूतलपर ब्राह्मणोंको जीतना सर्वथा असम्भव है
bhīṣma uvāca | aśavyaṃ spraṣṭum ākāśam acālyo himavān giriḥ | adhāryā setunā gaḍḍhā durjayā brāhmaṇā bhuvi ||
Bhishma berkata: Mustahil menyentuh langit; gunung Himālaya tidak dapat digoncangkan; dan jurang yang dalam tidak dapat ditahan hanya dengan membina empangan. Demikian juga, di bumi ini para Brāhmaṇa sama sekali tidak dapat ditaklukkan—janganlah berusaha menundukkan mereka, tetapi hormatilah dan tegakkanlah mereka menurut dharma.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that Brāhmaṇas, as bearers of sacred learning and moral authority, should not be treated as opponents to be subdued; attempting to 'conquer' them is portrayed as futile and adharma, like trying to touch the sky or shake the Himālaya.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma delivers moral counsel using a chain of impossibility-similes (sky, Himālaya, ravine restrained by a dam) to emphasize the social-ethical point that Brāhmaṇas are not to be overpowered and must be respected.