Shloka 38
आपद्धर्मे वैश्यवृत्तिः, विक्रय-निषेधाः, तथा ब्रह्म-क्षत्र-सम्बन्धः
Emergency Livelihood, Prohibited Trade, and Brahman–Kshatra Regulation
भीष्म उवाच अपारे यो भवेत् पारमप्लवे यः प्लवो भवेत् | शूद्रो वा यदि वाप्यन्य: सर्वथा मानमर्हति
bhīṣma uvāca | apāre yo bhavet pāram aplave yaḥ plavo bhavet | śūdro vā yadi vāpy anyaḥ sarvathā mānam arhati |
毗湿摩说道：当彼岸不可见时，凡能使人得以渡越者；当无舟可依时，凡能为溺者化作舟楫者——不论他是首陀罗，抑或他人——此人于一切方面皆当受敬。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Honor should be based on virtue and beneficent action—especially rescuing or supporting others in crisis—not on birth or social category. One who becomes a 'boat' for others in danger deserves respect regardless of varna.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma in the Shanti Parva, he states a principle of ethical evaluation: a person who provides decisive help when no help is available—metaphorically enabling crossing a shoreless danger—must be honored, even if society labels him a Shudra or otherwise low-status.