Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 12
उपवासविधि-प्रश्नः
Inquiry into the Discipline of Fasting
भ्रातृणामविभक्तानामुत्थानमपि चेत् सह | न पुत्रभागं विषमं पिता दद्यात् कदाचन
bhrātṝṇām avibhaktānām utthānam api cet saha | na putrabhāgaṁ viṣamaṁ pitā dadyāt kadācana ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Kapag ang magkakapatid ay hindi pa naghahati ng kani-kanilang bahagi at sama-samang nagpalago ng yaman ng angkan sa pamamagitan ng pinagsamang pagsisikap, kung gayon—kahit na habang buhay pa ang ama ay nais nilang maghiwa-hiwalay—hindi kailanman dapat maglaan ang ama ng di-pantay na bahagi sa kanyang mga anak na lalaki. Dapat niyang ibigay ang pantay-pantay na bahagi.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
In a joint (undivided) family where brothers have jointly increased wealth, the father must not create inequality at the time of separation; he should allot equal shares to all sons, upholding fairness and preventing partiality.
Bhīṣma is instructing on dharma related to household and inheritance norms: if sons who have lived and prospered together seek partition during the father’s lifetime, the father’s duty is to distribute property without favoritism, ensuring equal portions.