Shloka 18
राज्ञोऽभिषेकः, अराजकदोषः, दण्डधारणस्य आवश्यकता
Royal Consecration, the Fault of Kinglessness, and the Necessity of Enforcement
वानप्रस्थेषु विप्रेषु त्रैविद्येषु च भारत । प्रयच्छतो<र्थात् विपुलान् वन्याश्रमपदं भवेत्
vānaprastheṣu vipreṣu traividyeṣu ca bhārata | prayacchato 'rthāt vipulān vanyāśramapadaṃ bhavet ||
毗湿摩说道：噢，婆罗多啊，凡以丰厚财物布施于行“林居（vānaprastha）”之婆罗门，以及通达三部吠陀者，便得与“林居-住期（vānaprastha-āśrama）”相应的功德与灵性地位。此教诲强调：扶持守戒的林栖苦行者与吠陀学业，本身即是合乎法（dharma）之行，能结成那一清苦住期之果。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Generous giving to disciplined brāhmaṇas—especially vānaprasthas—and to scholars of the three Vedas yields the same religious merit as practicing the vānaprastha stage oneself; supporting ascetic discipline and Vedic knowledge is a direct form of dharma.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira about the fruits of various righteous acts, here specifying the merit gained by donating abundant wealth to forest-dwelling brāhmaṇas and Vedic experts.