Shloka 20
कामबन्धन-निवृत्ति तथा शान्तिलक्षण-उपदेशः | Release from Desire-Bondage and the Marks of Peace
भ्राता ज्येष्ठ: सम: पित्रा भार्या पुत्र: स्वका तनु: । छाया सवा दासवर्गश्व दुहिता कृपणं परम्
bhrātā jyeṣṭhaḥ samaḥ pitrā bhāryā putraḥ svakā tanuḥ | chāyā sā vā dāsavargaś ca duhitā kṛpaṇaṃ param ||
毗耶娑说：“长兄当与父等同而视；妻与子如同自身之躯；仆从如影随形。然而女儿最为脆弱——最应受怜悯与护持。”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse ranks familial and social relationships in terms of duty and care: honor the elder brother as a father, treat wife and son as inseparable from oneself, recognize servants as dependents who follow one’s household, and extend special compassion and protection to a daughter as especially vulnerable.
In the didactic setting of the Śānti Parva, Vyāsa delivers moral instruction on household and kinship dharma, defining how different relations should be regarded and what ethical responsibilities they entail.