Shloka 28
Adhyāya 9: Pratiśruta-Dāna
The Duty to Fulfill Promised Gifts
महद्धि भरतश्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणस्तीर्थमुच्यते । वेलायां न तु कस्यांचिद् गच्छेद् विप्रो हपूजित:
mahaddhi bharataśreṣṭha brāhmaṇas tīrtham ucyate | velāyāṃ na tu kasyāñcid gacched vipro hy apūjitaḥ ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “O pinakamainam sa angkan ng Bharata, ang isang Brāhmaṇa ay tinatawag na dakilang tīrtha—isang banal na tawiran. Kaya sa anumang oras ay hindi dapat pahintulutang umalis ang isang Brāhmaṇa nang hindi pinararangalan; tuwing siya’y dumarating, huwag siyang pauwiin nang walang nararapat na pagtanggap.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A Brāhmaṇa is to be regarded as a ‘living tīrtha’—a source of sanctity and merit. Hence, one should never let a Brāhmaṇa leave without proper honor, reception, and respectful treatment.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct. Here he emphasizes the ethical duty of hospitality: whenever a Brāhmaṇa arrives, he should be duly honored and not dismissed without respect.