Shloka 180
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
न त्वात्मन: सम्प्रदानं धनरत्नवदिष्यते
na tvātmanaḥ sampradānaṃ dhana-ratna-vad iṣyate
Doch die Hingabe des eigenen Selbst wird nicht gebilligt, als wäre es bloß Reichtum oder Juwelen; das Selbst ist kein übertragbarer Besitz.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Charity has limits: unlike wealth or jewels, one’s own self is not a legitimate object of donation. Dharma requires preserving one’s autonomy and accountability rather than treating the person as transferable property.
Bhīṣma is instructing on dharma in the Śānti Parva, discussing ethical norms around giving (dāna) and clarifying that certain things—especially the self—are not to be ‘given away’ as if they were material goods.