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Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 19

येषां वृद्धश्न बालश्न सर्व: सम्मानमरहति । तपोविद्याविशेषात्तु मानयन्ति परस्परम्‌

yeṣāṁ vṛddhaśna bālaśna sarvaḥ sammānam arhati | tapovidyāviśeṣāt tu mānayanti parasparam ||

Wika ni Bhīṣma: Sa mga Brahmin, matanda man o bata, bawat isa’y karapat-dapat sa paggalang. Gayunman, sa loob ng kanilang pamayanan, higit nilang pinararangalan ang isa’t isa ayon sa kahusayan sa tapa at sa pagkatuto—kinikilalang ang disiplina ng espiritu at kaalaman ang tunay na sukatan ng pagkakaiba.

येषाम्of whom
येषाम्:
Adhikarana
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
वृद्धश्नःone who eats after the elders (i.e., respects elders)
वृद्धश्नः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवृद्धश्न
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
बालश्नःone who eats after the children (i.e., cares for children)
बालश्नः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootबालश्न
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सर्वःeveryone
सर्वः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सम्मानम्honour, respect
सम्मानम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसम्मान
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अर्हतिdeserves
अर्हति:
TypeVerb
Rootअर्ह्
FormPresent, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
तपोविद्याविशेषात्because of distinction/superiority in austerity and learning
तपोविद्याविशेषात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootतपोविद्याविशेष
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
तुbut, indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
मानयन्तिthey honour, they respect
मानयन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootमान्
FormPresent, 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada
परस्परम्mutually, one another
परस्परम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपरस्पर

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
B
Brāhmaṇa (Brahmins)

Educational Q&A

Everyone within the Brahmin community is intrinsically worthy of respect regardless of age; nevertheless, special esteem is accorded based on demonstrable excellence in tapas (discipline/austerity) and vidyā (learning), making virtue and knowledge the ethical criteria for higher honor.

In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (Anushasana Parva), he explains norms of social reverence: Brahmins should be honored universally, and among themselves they mutually recognize and honor greater spiritual discipline and learning.