Shloka 30
अन्नदान-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Gift of Food) | Annadāna-Praśaṃsā
यदि नो ब्राह्मणास्तात संत्यजेयुरपूजिता: । पश्यन्तो दारुणं कर्म सततं क्षत्रिये स्थितम्
yadi no brāhmaṇās tāta saṃtyajeyur apūjitāḥ | paśyanto dāruṇaṃ karma satataṃ kṣatriye sthitam ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Anak ko, kung ang aming mga brāhmaṇa—na pinabayaan at hindi pinarangalan—ay tatalikod sa amin, matapos makita ang malupit at walang-humpay na gawang laging nakaugat sa landas ng kṣatriya, kung gayon (malalagay sa panganib ang kaayusan at kapakanan namin).”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma stresses that brāhmaṇas must be duly honoured; if they are neglected, they may withdraw their support. Since kṣatriya life involves severe, forceful duties, the stabilizing presence of respected brāhmaṇas is implied as essential for ethical governance and social balance.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma, he warns his listener that brāhmaṇas, if left unhonoured, could abandon the community after witnessing the continual harsh actions associated with kṣatriya conduct—highlighting tension between necessary royal force and the need for priestly counsel and legitimacy.