Shloka 13
Nakṣatra-yoga-anusāreṇa Dāna-vidhiḥ
Gifts prescribed according to lunar mansions and yogas
निमन्त्रयेथा: कौरव्य कामै श्नान्यैर्द्धिजोत्तमान् | कुरुनन्दन! जो विद्या और वेदव्रतमें निष्णात हैं
bhīṣma uvāca |
nimantrayedāḥ kauravya kāmaiḥ snānyair dvijottamān | kurunandana ye vidyā-veda-vrateṣu niṣṇātāḥ ye na kasyacid āśritā jīvikāṃ kurvanti yeṣāṃ svādhyāyas tapaś ca guptaṃ ye ca kaṭhora-vrata-pālanāḥ | tān uttamān brāhmaṇān tvam ātmagehe nimantraya sevakaiḥ āvaśyakopaskaraiś ca anyair upabhogya-vastubhiś ca sampannāni manoramāṇi gṛhāṇi kārayitvā tebhyo dehi ||
api te pratigṛhṇīyuḥ śraddhāpetaṃ yudhiṣṭhira ||
Bhishma said: O Kauravya, O delight of the Kurus—invite the best of Brahmins with the proper requisites for bathing and hospitality. Those who are accomplished in learning and in the vows of Vedic discipline; who do not live by dependence on others; whose self-study and austerity are kept private; and who observe rigorous vows—such excellent Brahmins you should invite to your own house. Have pleasing dwellings built for them, fully provided with attendants, necessary supplies, and other comforts, and then give these to them. Yet, O Yudhishthira, will they even accept a gift that is devoid of faith?
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that charity and hospitality must be directed toward worthy recipients—disciplined, learned, self-reliant Brahmins—and, crucially, must be offered with śraddhā (sincere faith). Material generosity without inner sincerity is ethically deficient and may not be accepted.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on how to honor and support exemplary Brahmins: invite them properly, provide bathing and hospitality requisites, and even build and gift well-appointed dwellings—while warning that gifts lacking faith may be refused.