Shloka 12
अन्नदान-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Gift of Food) | Annadāna-Praśaṃsā
क्रियानियमितान् साधुन् पुत्रदारैश्व॒ कर्शितान् अयाचमानान् कौन्तेय सर्वोपायैर्निमन्त्रयेत्
kriyā-niyamitān sādhūn putra-dāraiś ca karśitān | ayācamānān kaunteya sarvopāyair nimantrayet ||
Bhīṣma dijo: «Oh hijo de Kuntī, por todos los medios debe uno invitar y sostener a esos hombres virtuosos, disciplinados en la recta conducta, consumidos por la carga de mantener a esposa e hijos, y que, sin embargo, no mendigan a nadie. A tales dueños de casa, dueños de sí mismos, hay que ayudarles sin esperar a que pidan.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Charity should be proactive and discerning: one should seek out and support virtuous, self-respecting people who suffer silently while fulfilling family duties, rather than waiting for them to beg.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction to Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma, he advises how to practice giving: identify disciplined, righteous householders strained by family responsibilities who do not ask for help, and assist them through all appropriate means.