Shloka 31
मातापितृगुरुपूजा-प्रशंसा
Praise of Venerating Mother, Father, and Teacher
भृतो वृद्धों यो न बिभर्ति पुत्र: स्वयोनिज: पितरं मातरं च । तद् वै पापं भ्रूणहत्याविशिष्टं तस्मान्नान्य: पापकृदस्ति लोके
bhṛto vṛddho yo na bibharti putraḥ svayonijaḥ pitaraṃ mātaraṃ ca | tad vai pāpaṃ bhrūṇahatyāviśiṣṭaṃ tasmān nānyaḥ pāpakṛd asti loke ||
اگر اپنا ہی بیٹا، جسے پال پوس کر بڑا کیا گیا ہو، اپنے ماں باپ کی کفالت نہ کرے تو یہ بھروُن ہتیا کے برابر مہاپاپ ہے؛ اس دنیا میں اس سے بڑھ کر کوئی پاپی نہیں॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A grown son who was raised by his parents has a binding dharmic obligation to support them materially and practically; neglecting this duty is condemned as an extremely grave sin, equated with foeticide, underscoring the seriousness of filial responsibility.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma is teaching Yudhishthira about ethical duties in household and social life, emphasizing the paramount importance of caring for one’s parents.