Shloka 18
Adhyāya 9: Pratiśruta-Dāna
The Duty to Fulfill Promised Gifts
न हर्तव्यं विप्रधन क्षन्तव्यं तेषु नित्यश: । बालाश्व नावमन्तव्या दरिद्रा: कृपणा अपि
na hartavyaṃ vipradhanaṃ kṣantavyaṃ teṣu nityaśaḥ | bālāś ca nāvamantavyā daridrāḥ kṛpaṇā api ||
Bhishma ensina que nunca se deve furtar a riqueza de um brâmane. Mesmo que os brâmanes cometam faltas, deve-se manter constantemente uma atitude de perdão para com eles. Ainda que sejam crianças, pobres ou dignos de pena, não devem ser tratados com desprezo — reverência e autocontenção são exigências do dharma.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not appropriate a brāhmaṇa’s property; maintain forgiveness toward brāhmaṇas even when they err; never despise them even if they are young, poor, or pitiable—dharma requires restraint, reverence, and forbearance.
In the Anuśāsana-parvan’s instruction section, Bhīṣma is delivering ethical guidance on righteous conduct, emphasizing social and moral duties toward brāhmaṇas, including non-stealing, patience, and avoidance of contempt.