Shloka 36
कपोत-लुब्धकसंवादः — Hunter’s Remorse and Renunciatory Resolve
भीष्म उवाच ब्राह्मणानेव सेवेत विद्यावृद्धांस्तपस्विन: । श्रुतचारित्रवृत्ताब्यान् पवित्र होतदुत्तमम्
bhīṣma uvāca brāhmaṇān eva seveta vidyā-vṛddhāṁs tapasvinaḥ | śruta-cāritra-vṛttāḍhyān pavitrāṁs te tad uttamam ||
भीष्म उवाच—ब्राह्मणानेव सेवेत विद्यावृद्धांस्तपस्विनः। श्रुतचारित्रवृत्ताढ्यान्; पवित्रं ह्येतदुत्तमम्॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Choose one’s guides and associates carefully: serve and learn from Brahmins who combine learning (vidyā/śruta) with austerity (tapas) and exemplary character and conduct (cāritra, vṛtta). Such association is presented as a highly purifying dharmic act.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising King Yudhiṣṭhira on righteous living after the war, emphasizing that the king should honor and serve truly qualified, virtuous Brahmins as part of sustaining dharma in society.