Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 14
उपवासविधि-प्रश्नः
Inquiry into the Discipline of Fasting
दशाचार्यानुपाध्याय उपाध्यायान् पिता दश
daśācāryān upādhyāyaḥ, upādhyāyān pitā daśa; gauraveṇa daśa pitṝn atikrāmati mātā; mātā hi svagauraveṇa pṛthivīm api tiraskaroti; tasmān mātṛsamo nānyo guruḥ.
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Ang isang tagapagturo (upādhyāya) ay higit kaysa sampung guro; ang ama ay higit kaysa sampung tagapagturo; at ang ina ay humihigit pa sa sampung ama sa dangal. Sa sariling kadakilaan, nalalampasan ng ina maging ang buong daigdig. Kaya’t walang gurong kapantay ng ina.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse ranks sources of guidance and authority, culminating in the mother as the highest object of reverence; it teaches that gratitude, service, and respect toward one’s mother are central to dharma.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising on righteous conduct, emphasizing the ethical priority of honoring parents—especially the mother—above other revered teachers.