Shloka 180
Devanagari script
न त्वात्मन: सम्प्रदानं धनरत्नवदिष्यते
Transliteration
na tvātmanaḥ sampradānaṃ dhana-ratna-vad iṣyate
Translation
But the giving away of one’s own self is not approved as though it were merely wealth or jewels; the self is not a transferable possession.
Word by Word
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
आत्मनःof oneself / of the self
आत्मनः:
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मन्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
सम्प्रदानम्giving away; donation; handing over
सम्प्रदानम्:
TypeNoun
Rootसम्प्रदान
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
धनरत्नवत्like wealth and jewels
धनरत्नवत्:
TypeAdjective
Rootधनरत्नवत्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
इष्यतेis desired/approved; is considered proper
इष्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootइष्
FormLat (Present), Atmanepada, Third, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
Ā
ātman (self)D
dhana (wealth)R
ratna (jewels)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Cross References
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Charity has limits: unlike wealth or jewels, one’s own self is not a legitimate object of donation. Dharma requires preserving one’s autonomy and accountability rather than treating the person as transferable property.
Bhīṣma is instructing on dharma in the Śānti Parva, discussing ethical norms around giving (dāna) and clarifying that certain things—especially the self—are not to be ‘given away’ as if they were material goods.