Shloka 13
Nakṣatra-yoga-anusāreṇa Dāna-vidhiḥ
Gifts prescribed according to lunar mansions and yogas
निमन्त्रयेथा: कौरव्य कामै श्नान्यैर्द्धिजोत्तमान् | कुरुनन्दन! जो विद्या और वेदव्रतमें निष्णात हैं
bhīṣma uvāca |
nimantrayedāḥ kauravya kāmaiḥ snānyair dvijottamān | kurunandana ye vidyā-veda-vrateṣu niṣṇātāḥ ye na kasyacid āśritā jīvikāṃ kurvanti yeṣāṃ svādhyāyas tapaś ca guptaṃ ye ca kaṭhora-vrata-pālanāḥ | tān uttamān brāhmaṇān tvam ātmagehe nimantraya sevakaiḥ āvaśyakopaskaraiś ca anyair upabhogya-vastubhiś ca sampannāni manoramāṇi gṛhāṇi kārayitvā tebhyo dehi ||
api te pratigṛhṇīyuḥ śraddhāpetaṃ yudhiṣṭhira ||
Bhīṣma dijo: «Oh Kauravya, deleite de los Kurus: invita a los mejores brāhmaṇas, con los debidos preparativos para el baño y la hospitalidad. A aquellos consumados en el saber y en los votos de la disciplina védica; que no viven por dependencia de otros; cuyo autoestudio y austeridad se guardan en lo íntimo; y que observan votos rigurosos: a tales brāhmaṇas excelentes debes convocar a tu propia casa. Haz construir para ellos moradas gratas, provistas de sirvientes, de lo necesario y de otros conforts, y entrégaselas. Pero, oh Yudhiṣṭhira, ¿aceptarán siquiera un don desprovisto de fe (śraddhā)?»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that charity and hospitality must be directed toward worthy recipients—disciplined, learned, self-reliant Brahmins—and, crucially, must be offered with śraddhā (sincere faith). Material generosity without inner sincerity is ethically deficient and may not be accepted.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on how to honor and support exemplary Brahmins: invite them properly, provide bathing and hospitality requisites, and even build and gift well-appointed dwellings—while warning that gifts lacking faith may be refused.