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 ||
بھیشم نے کہا—گائے، بیل یا سواری وغیرہ میں جو سب سے برتر اور نمایاں چیز ہو، بیٹا اسے برہمنی کے لیے الگ رکھے؛ یہ باپ کے مال میں اس کا ایک حصہ ہے۔
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.