Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 42
धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्
Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct
अर्थाद् वा यदि वा कामान्न किंचिदुपलक्षयेत् पितृदेवातिथिकृते साधनं कुरुते च यः
arthād vā yadi vā kāmān na kiñcid upalakṣayet pitṛ-devātithi-kṛte sādhanaṃ kurute ca yaḥ
Sinabi ni Mahādeva: “Maging para sa pakinabang o dahil sa pagnanasa, huwag magpakitang-tao o magparada ng anuman. Ang nagsisikap maglaan ng nararapat na paraan upang paglingkuran ang mga Pitṛ (mga ninuno), ang mga diyos, at ang mga panauhin—siya ang tunay na dakilang kṣatriya.”
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
True excellence—especially for a kṣatriya—is not self-advertisement for profit or pleasure, but quiet, sincere effort to maintain dharmic obligations: honoring ancestors, worshipping the gods, and receiving guests with proper provisions.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Śrī Mahādeva speaks a normative teaching: he defines the superior kṣatriya as one who avoids ostentatious display and instead actively arranges resources for the service of Pitṛs, Devas, and guests.