Shloka 36
Āśrama-dharma: Duties of the Four Life-Stages (आश्रमधर्मः)
शूद्रेण तु न हातव्यो भर्ता कस्याज्चिदापदि । अतिरेकेण भर्तव्यो भर्ता द्रव्यपरिक्षये
śūdreṇa tu na hātavyo bhartā kasyācid āpadi | atirekeṇa bhartavyo bhartā dravya-parikṣaye ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—କୌଣସି ଆପଦରେ ଶୂଦ୍ର ନିଜ ସ୍ୱାମୀଙ୍କୁ ତ୍ୟାଗ କିମ୍ବା ହାନି କରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ। ବିଶେଷତଃ ସ୍ୱାମୀଙ୍କ ଧନ କ୍ଷୟ ହେଲେ, ତେବେ ଅଧିକ ଯତ୍ନରେ ତାଙ୍କୁ ପୋଷଣ କରିବା ଉଚିତ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches steadfast duty: a servant (here, a Śūdra) should not forsake his master in crisis, and should instead provide heightened support, especially when the master’s resources are depleted.
In the Śānti Parva’s dharma-instruction setting, Bhīṣma is laying down norms of conduct and social obligations, specifying how service should intensify when the master faces adversity or loss of wealth.