Shloka 17
अन्नदान-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Gift of Food) | Annadāna-Praśaṃsā
विद्यास्नाता व्रतस्नाता ये व्यपाश्रित्य जीविन: । गूढस्वाध्यायतपसो ब्राह्मणा: संशितव्रता:
bhīṣma uvāca | vidyāsnātā vratāsnātā ye vyapāśritya jīvinaḥ | gūḍhasvādhyāyatapaso brāhmaṇāḥ saṃśitavratāḥ |
毗湿摩说道：“尤狄湿提罗啊，有些婆罗门以学识与誓戒而自净；他们不依附富贵之人而自养其生；他们将自习诵读与苦行之功深藏不露；并且坚住于严峻的戒行。你若对这等清净、自制、且满足于自己合法妻室的贤者施以扶持与敬礼，无论所作何事，皆将成为你在此世的福祉之源。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s welfare is strengthened by honoring and supporting truly disciplined Brahmins—those refined by learning and vows, self-reliant (not living by dependence on the rich), inwardly devoted (keeping study and austerity unadvertised), and morally restrained. Aid given to such people is portrayed as especially meritorious and auspicious for the ruler.
In the Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and kingly duties. Here he identifies a class of exemplary Brahmins and tells Yudhishthira that whatever he does for their support and honor will bring him well-being—framing patronage as an ethical responsibility guided by discernment of character.