Shloka 40
Śaraṇāgata-Atithi-Dharma in the Kapota Narrative (कपोत-आख्यानम्—शरणागतधर्मः)
हीनादादेयमादौ स्यात् समानात् तदनन्तरम् । असम्भवे वा55ददीत विशिष्टादपि धार्मिकात्
hīnād ādeyam ādau syāt samānāt tad-anantaram | asambhave vā dadyāt viśiṣṭād api dhārmikāt ||
మొదట హీనుడి ఇంటి నుంచి (ఆహారం) తీసుకోవాలి; తరువాత సముడి ఇంటి నుంచి. అది కూడా సాధ్యం కాకపోతే, ధర్మనిష్ఠుడైన శ్రేష్ఠుని నుంచైనా తీసుకోవచ్చు.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma lays out a graded ethical rule for taking food in a situation of need: first from someone with less, then from an equal, and only if unavoidable even from a superior—framing the act within a hierarchy meant to minimize harm and preserve dharma under necessity.
In Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma is advising on proper conduct in difficult circumstances, giving a sequence of whom one may approach (or take from) when seeking food, emphasizing an order that reflects social and moral considerations.