Shloka 38
अन्नदान-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Gift of Food) | Annadāna-Praśaṃsā
तात! मुझे ब्राह्मण जितने प्रिय हैं, उतने मेरे पिता, तुम, पितामह, यह शरीर और जीवन भी प्रिय नहीं हैं ।।
tāta! brāhmaṇā yāvat me priyāḥ, tāvat me pitā tvam pitāmaha idaṁ śarīraṁ jīvitaṁ ca na priyam. tvattaḥ me priyataraḥ pṛthivyāṁ nāsti kaścana; tvatto 'pi me priyatarā brāhmaṇā bharatarṣabha.
Sinabi ni Bhīṣma: “Mahal kong anak! Kung gaano kamahal sa akin ang mga Brāhmaṇa, hindi kasingmahal niyon ang aking ama, ikaw, ang aking ninuno, ang katawang ito, at ang buhay na ito. O pinakamainam sa angkan ng Bharata! Sa ibabaw ng lupa, wala nang higit pang mahal sa akin kaysa sa iyo; ngunit ang mga Brāhmaṇa ay higit pang mahal sa akin kaysa sa iyo.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma ranks his affections to underline a dharmic priority: reverence for Brāhmaṇas—seen as bearers of Vedic learning, ritual authority, and moral guidance—stands above even personal bonds and self-preservation. The verse asserts that protecting and honoring the custodians of dharma is a higher duty than ordinary attachments.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs a Kuru prince (addressed as bharatarṣabha) on righteous conduct. Here he expresses deep personal affection for the listener, yet emphasizes that his commitment to Brāhmaṇas and the dharmic order is even greater, framing his counsel within the ethics of duty and social-religious responsibility.