Shloka 15
Śuka’s Nirveda: Vyāsa’s Admonition on Dharma, Impermanence, and ‘Imperishable Wealth’ (अक्षय-धन)
सत्कृता चैकपत्नी च जात्या योनिरिहेष्यते । ऋग्यजु:सामगो विद्वान् षट्कर्मा पात्रमुच्यते
satkṛtā caikapatnī ca jātyā yoniriheṣyate | ṛgyajuḥsāmago vidvān ṣaṭkarmā pātram ucyate ||
Bhīṣma berkata: Seorang wanita yang dihormati (oleh suaminya), setia kepada seorang suami sahaja, dan lahir daripada keturunan yang baik, dianggap di sini sebagai “rahim yang unggul”; maka sesiapa yang lahir daripada ibu sedemikian dikira suci dari segi kelahiran. Selanjutnya, seorang Brāhmaṇa yang mahir dalam Ṛg-, Yajur- dan Sāma-veda serta sentiasa melaksanakan enam kewajipan (melakukan yajña dan memimpin yajña, belajar dan mengajar, memberi dana dan menerima dana) dikatakan suci dari segi perbuatan dan layak menerima pemberian.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma distinguishes two bases of worthiness: purity by birth (being born from a respected, faithful, well-born mother) and purity by conduct (a Brāhmaṇa’s Vedic learning and steady performance of the six prescribed duties), concluding that such a person is a ‘pātra’—a fit recipient of gifts and social trust.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira by describing markers of social and ritual eligibility: the mother’s recognized virtue and lineage, and the Brāhmaṇa’s Vedic competence together with disciplined performance of traditional obligations.