Shloka 2
अध्याय १२८: शिव–उमा संवादः — तिलोत्तमा, श्मशान-मेध्यता, तथा चातुर्वर्ण्य-धर्मः
Chapter 128: Śiva–Umā Dialogue—Tilottamā, the Ritual Valence of the Śmaśāna, and the Fourfold Duty-Code
भीष्म उवाच साम्ना प्रसाद्यते कश्नचिद् दानेन च तथा पर: । पुरुषप्रकृतिं ज्ञात्वा तयोरेकतरं भजेत्
bhīṣma uvāca | sāmnā prasādyate kaścid dānena ca tathā paraḥ | puruṣa-prakṛtiṁ jñātvā tayor ekataraṁ bhajet ||
Bhishma said: Some people are won over by gentle conciliation, while others are won over by gifts. Therefore, understanding a person’s innate disposition, one should adopt whichever of these two means is appropriate.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
People respond differently to different approaches; one should discern an individual’s temperament and then use an appropriate ethical means—either gentle conciliation (sāman) or generosity through gifts (dāna)—to achieve harmony or cooperation.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma and proper conduct, he advises the listener that effective and righteous dealing with others requires reading their nature: some are pacified by respectful persuasion, others by material help or gifts, so one should choose the suitable method.