Mahabharata 3.2.52 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 2, Shloka 52
ब्राह्मणानुयात्रा—शौनकोपदेशः
Brāhmaṇas Follow into Exile and Śaunaka’s Instruction
कथं हा[स्मद्विधो ब्रह्मन् वर्तमानो गृहाश्रमे । भरणं पालन चापि न कुर्यादनुयायिनाम्,विप्रवर! गृहस्थ-आश्रममें रहनेवाला मेरे-जैसा पुरुष अपने अनुयायियोंका भरण- पोषण भी न करे, यह कैसे उचित हो सकता है?
kathaṁ hāsmadvidho brahman vartamāno gṛhāśrame | bharaṇaṁ pālanaṁ cāpi na kuryād anuyāyinām, vipravara ||
Yudhiṣṭhira disse: “Ó brâmane, como poderia ser correto que um homem como eu—vivendo no estágio do chefe de família—deixasse de prover e proteger aqueles que me seguem e dependem de mim, ó o melhor entre os brâmanes?”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts gṛhastha-dharma: one who lives as a householder—especially a leader—must sustain (bharaṇa) and protect (pālana) those dependent on him; neglecting followers is ethically improper.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a Brahmin, justifying his sense of obligation: as a householder and responsible figure, he cannot consider it right to abandon the maintenance and protection of his attendants and dependents.
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