Shloka 9
अन्नदान-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Gift of Food) | Annadāna-Praśaṃsā
याचमानमभीमानादनासक्तमकिंचनम् । यो नार्चति यथाशक्ति स नृशंसो युधिष्ठिर,युधिष्ठि!! जो आसक्तिरहित अकिंचन याचकका अहंकारवश अपनी शक्तिके अनुसार सत्कार नहीं करता है, वह मनुष्य निर्दयी है
yācamānam abhīmānād anāsaktam akiñcanam | yo nārcati yathāśakti sa nṛśaṁso yudhiṣṭhira ||
Bhīṣma said: “O Yudhiṣṭhira, if a person, out of pride, fails to honor a supplicant who is unattached and without possessions, according to one’s capacity, that person is cruel. To neglect the humble petitioner when one could offer fitting respect is a breach of humane conduct and dharma.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One must honor and assist a needy, unattached supplicant according to one’s means; refusing out of ego is condemned as cruelty and a violation of dharma.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Bhīṣma continues advising King Yudhiṣṭhira, stressing the moral duty of respectful giving and the sin of prideful neglect toward the destitute.