Shloka 26
अन्नदान-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Gift of Food) | Annadāna-Praśaṃsā
यच्छो भार्थ बलार्थ वा वित्तमस्ति तवानघ । तेन ते ब्राह्मणा: पूज्या: स्वधर्ममनुतिष्ठता
yac cho bhārtha balārtha vā vittam asti tavānagha | tena te brāhmaṇāḥ pūjyāḥ svadharmam anutiṣṭhatā, anagha ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai yang tidak berdosa, apa jua harta yang engkau miliki—sama ada untuk menambah kemuliaan diri dan rumah tangga, atau untuk menambah kekuatan—dengan harta itu hendaklah engkau memuliakan serta menyokong para Brahmana, sambil teguh menunaikan dharma yang ditetapkan bagimu.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wealth is not merely for personal comfort or power; it should be directed toward dharmic purposes—especially honoring and supporting Brahmanas—while one remains faithful to one’s own prescribed duties (svadharma).
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising the royal listener on righteous conduct. Here he emphasizes proper use of wealth: even resources intended for household dignity or strength should be employed in reverence and support of Brahmanas as part of living one’s dharma.