Shloka 10
अन्नदान-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Gift of Food) | Annadāna-Praśaṃsā
अमित्रमपि चेद् दीनं शरणैषिणमागतम् | व्यसने यो<नुगृह्नाति स वै पुरुषसत्तम:,शत्रु भी यदि दीन होकर शरण पानेकी इच्छासे घरपर आ जाय तो संकटके समय जो उसपर दया करता है, वही मनुष्योंमें श्रेष्ठ है
amitrām api ced dīnaṁ śaraṇaiṣiṇam āgatam | vyasane yo 'nugṛhṇāti sa vai puruṣasattamaḥ ||
Bhīṣma dijo: «Aun si un enemigo llega abatido, buscando refugio, quien le muestra compasión en tiempo de aflicción es, en verdad, el mejor de los hombres. El dharma se pone a prueba con mayor rigor cuando la misericordia se extiende más allá de la amistad: hacia el adversario caído que pide amparo.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True excellence in dharma is shown by extending protection and kindness even to an enemy when he is helpless and seeks refuge; compassion in another’s distress is a higher test than loyalty to one’s own side.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on righteous conduct (Anuśāsana Parva), he lays down a moral principle: when a foe arrives humbled and asking for shelter, the virtuous person should not exploit that weakness but instead offer help during the crisis.