स्वदेशे परदेशे वाप्यतिथिं नोपवासयेत् । कर्म वै सफल कृत्वा गुरूणां प्रतिपादयेत्
Bhīṣma uvāca | svadeśe paradeśe vāpy atithiṁ nopavāsayet | karma vai saphalaṁ kṛtvā gurūṇāṁ pratipādayet ||
Bhishma disse: Quer na própria terra, quer em terra estrangeira, não se deve deixar um hóspede permanecer sem alimento. E qualquer tarefa ordenada pelos anciãos ou mestres deve ser realizada com êxito e depois comunicada a eles.
भीष्म उवाच
Two duties are emphasized: (1) atithi-dharma—never let a guest go unfed, regardless of whether one is at home or abroad; and (2) guru-dharma—carry out the teacher’s/elder’s assigned work to completion and then respectfully communicate the successful result.
In Bhishma’s instruction on righteous conduct (dharma), he gives concise practical rules for daily life: hospitality toward unexpected guests and disciplined obedience toward elders/teachers by completing entrusted tasks and reporting back.