Shloka 10
Virūpākṣa’s Dāna and Gautama’s Burden — the approach of Rājadharma
तथोपकारिणं चैव मन्यते वज्चितं परम् | दत्त्वापि च धनं काले संतपत्युपकारिणे,जो उसका उपकार करता है, उसको वह अपने जालमें फँसा हुआ समझता है और उपकारीको भी यदि कभी धन देता है तो उसके लिये बहुत समयतक पश्चात्ताप करता रहता है
tathopakāriṇaṃ caiva manyate vañcitaṃ param | dattvāpi ca dhanaṃ kāle santapaty upakāriṇe ||
Bhishma said: “Even the one who has helped him, he regards as thoroughly deceived—caught in his own snare. And even if, at some time, he gives wealth to his benefactor, he continues to brood over it and repent for a long while.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns ingratitude and manipulative giving: a corrupt person treats even a benefactor as someone already trapped and, if he gives anything in return, he later regrets it—showing that his ‘charity’ is not rooted in dharma but in self-interest and resentment.
In Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct and character, Bhishma describes a negative type of person: one who exploits helpers, assumes superiority over them, and cannot give back without inner bitterness—illustrating traits to avoid in ethical life.