Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 11
Cyavana’s Water-Vow and the Ethics of Cohabitation (स्नेह-सम्वास-धर्मः)
लक्षण्यं गोवृषो यान॑ यत् प्रधानतमं भवेत् । ब्राह्माण्यास्तद्धरेत् पुत्र एकांशं वै पितुर्धनात्
lakṣaṇyaṃ govṛṣo yānaṃ yat pradhānatamaṃ bhavet | brāhmaṇyās tad dharet putra ekāṃśaṃ vai pitur dhanāt ||
Sinabi ni Bhīṣma: “Anumang ituring na pinakadakila sa mga natatanging handog—gaya ng baka, toro, o sasakyang panglakbay—ay itabi ng anak na lalaki ang pangunahing bagay na iyon para sa babaeng Brāhmaṇa (Brāhmaṇī), bilang nararapat niyang bahagi mula sa yaman ng ama.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When dividing a father’s estate, the son should ensure a rightful portion is assigned, specifically setting aside the most eminent marked item (such as a cow, bull, or conveyance) as a due share for the Brāhmaṇa woman—emphasizing fairness, duty, and respect for dharmic claims.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma in the Anuśāsana Parva, he lays down a rule about allocating property: among notable assets, the most principal one should be designated as a share for a Brāhmaṇa woman from the father’s wealth, guiding ethical distribution within the household.