Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 13
उपवासविधि-प्रश्नः
Inquiry into the Discipline of Fasting
न ज्येष्ठटो वावमन्येत दुष्कृत: सुकृतोडपि वा । यदि स्त्री यद्यवरज: श्रेयश्लेत् तत् तदाचरेत्
na jyeṣṭhaṭo vāvamanyeta duṣkṛtaḥ sukṛto 'pi vā | yadi strī yadyavarajaḥ śreyaḥ ślet tat tad ācaret |
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Huwag hamakin ang sinuman dahil lamang siya ang nakatatanda, kahit siya’y nagkamali; at huwag ding hamakin ang iba dahil lamang siya’y gumawa ng mabuti. Kung ang tunay na kapakinabangan ay nasa isang babae o nasa nakababata, iyon mismo ang tanggapin at isagawa.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not judge counsel by the speaker’s age, status, or gender. What matters is śreyas—true welfare. If the best course is taught by someone socially seen as ‘junior’ (a younger person) or by a woman, one should accept it and put it into practice.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction-setting, Bhishma continues giving ethical guidance. Here he emphasizes impartial discernment: neither seniority nor reputation alone should determine acceptance or rejection; one should adopt whatever leads to genuine good conduct.