Shloka 16
Satya–Anṛta Viveka (Discrimination between Truth and Falsehood) | सत्य–अनृत विवेकः
यः पापैः सह सम्बन्धान्मुच्यते शपथादपि,यदि शपथ खा लेनेसे भी पापियोंके हाथसे छुटकारा मिल जाय तो वैसा ही करे। जहाँतक वश चले, किसी तरह भी पापियोंके हाथमें धन न जाने दे; क्योंकि पापाचारियोंको दिया हुआ धन दाताको भी पीड़ित कर देता है
yaḥ pāpaiḥ saha sambandhān mucyate śapathād api | yadi śapathaṃ khā lanese ’pi pāpiyoṃ ke hāth se chutkārā mil jāya to vaisā hī kare | yāṃtaka vaś cale, kisī tarah bhī pāpiyoṃ ke hāth meṃ dhana na jāne de; kyoṃki pāpācāriyoṃ ko diyā huā dhana dātā ko ’pi pīḍita kar detā hai ||
Bhīṣma says: If one can free oneself from entangling connections with sinful people—even by taking an oath—then one should do so. As far as one is able, one must ensure that wealth does not pass into the hands of the wicked by any means; for wealth given to those who live by sin ends up afflicting even the giver.
भीष्म उवाच