Mahabharata 3.2.52 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 2, Shloka 52
ब्राह्मणानुयात्रा—शौनकोपदेशः
Brāhmaṇas Follow into Exile and Śaunaka’s Instruction
कथं हा[स्मद्विधो ब्रह्मन् वर्तमानो गृहाश्रमे । भरणं पालन चापि न कुर्यादनुयायिनाम्,विप्रवर! गृहस्थ-आश्रममें रहनेवाला मेरे-जैसा पुरुष अपने अनुयायियोंका भरण- पोषण भी न करे, यह कैसे उचित हो सकता है?
kathaṁ hāsmadvidho brahman vartamāno gṛhāśrame | bharaṇaṁ pālanaṁ cāpi na kuryād anuyāyinām, vipravara ||
یُدھِشٹھِر نے کہا— اے افضلِ برہمن! گِرہستھ آشرم میں رہنے والا میرے جیسا شخص اپنے پیروکاروں اور محتاجوں کی کفالت اور حفاظت نہ کرے—یہ کیسے درست ہو سکتا ہے؟
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts gṛhastha-dharma: one who lives as a householder—especially a leader—must sustain (bharaṇa) and protect (pālana) those dependent on him; neglecting followers is ethically improper.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a Brahmin, justifying his sense of obligation: as a householder and responsible figure, he cannot consider it right to abandon the maintenance and protection of his attendants and dependents.
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