Shloka 12
अन्नदान-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Gift of Food) | Annadāna-Praśaṃsā
क्रियानियमितान् साधुन् पुत्रदारैश्व॒ कर्शितान् अयाचमानान् कौन्तेय सर्वोपायैर्निमन्त्रयेत्
kriyā-niyamitān sādhūn putra-dāraiś ca karśitān | ayācamānān kaunteya sarvopāyair nimantrayet ||
Bhīṣma said: “O son of Kuntī, one should, by every possible means, invite and support those virtuous people who are disciplined in righteous conduct, who are worn down by the burden of maintaining their children and wives, yet do not beg from others. Such self-restrained householders deserve to be helped without waiting for them to ask.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Charity should be proactive and discerning: one should seek out and support virtuous, self-respecting people who suffer silently while fulfilling family duties, rather than waiting for them to beg.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction to Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma, he advises how to practice giving: identify disciplined, righteous householders strained by family responsibilities who do not ask for help, and assist them through all appropriate means.