Āśrama-dharma: Duties of the Four Life-Stages (आश्रमधर्मः)
कल्प्यां तेन तु ते प्राहुर्वृत्ति धर्मविदो जना: । द्विजातियोंमेंसे जिस किसीकी सेवा करनेके लिये कोई शूद्र आवे, उसीको उसकी जीविकाकी व्यवस्था करनी चाहिये; ऐसा धर्मज्ञ पुरुषोंका कथन है
kalpyāṁ tena tu te prāhur vṛttiṁ dharmavido janāḥ |
Bhishma disse: As autoridades versadas em dharma declaram que se deve prover devidamente os meios de subsistência àquela pessoa—especialmente a um Śūdra—que vem prestar serviço a um dvija (um “duas-vezes-nascido”). Assim, o serviço deve ser correspondido com manutenção responsável, alinhando o dever social ao cuidado ético.
भीष्म उवाच
That dharma requires reciprocal responsibility: when someone comes to serve (especially a Śūdra serving a dvija), the recipient of service should ensure the servant’s livelihood is properly provided for.
In the Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma continues instructing on dharma and social obligations, citing what dharma-knowers declare about arranging maintenance for those who render service.