Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 1763
उपवासविधि-प्रश्नः
Inquiry into the Discipline of Fasting
तमेव चोपजीवेरन् यथैव पितरं तथा । बड़े भाईको उचित है कि वह अपने छोटे भाइयोंको जीविका प्रदान करे तथा उनका पालन-पोषण करे। छोटे भाइयोंका भी कर्तव्य है कि वे सब-के-सब बड़े भाईके सामने नतमस्तक हों और उसकी इच्छाके अनुसार चलें। बड़े भाईको ही पिता मानकर उनके आश्रयमें जीवन व्यतीत करें
tam eva copajīveran yathaiva pitaraṃ tathā |
毗湿摩教诲说：诸弟当如依父一般，依长兄之扶持而生。长兄则有义务供给他们的生计，抚养照料其所需。诸弟应在长兄前俯首致敬，依其意而行，视长兄为父，居其庇护之下度日。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The core teaching is a dharmic model of family hierarchy: the eldest brother must protect, maintain, and provide livelihood for younger brothers, while the younger brothers should respect him as they would a father, bow to him, and follow his guidance.
Bhishma is instructing Yudhishthira on righteous conduct (dharma), specifically outlining proper duties and mutual obligations among brothers within a household and lineage.