Shloka 6
Nakṣatra-yoga-anusāreṇa Dāna-vidhiḥ
Gifts prescribed according to lunar mansions and yogas
आनुृशंस्य॑ परो धर्मो याचते यत् प्रदीयते । अयाचत: सीदमानानू् सर्वोपायैर्निमन्त्रयेत्,याचकको जो दान दिया जाता है, वह दयारूप परम धर्म है, परंतु जो लोग क्लेश उठाकर भी याचना नहीं करते, उन ब्राह्मणोंको प्रत्येक उपायसे अपने पास बुलाकर दान देना चाहिये
Ānṛśaṁsyaṁ paro dharmo yācate yat pradīyate | ayācataḥ sīdamānān sarvopāyair nimantrayet ||
Dijo Bhishma: «Dar con compasión es el dharma más alto—cuando el don se ofrece a quien lo pide. Pero a quienes sufren en silencio y no mendigan, en especial a los brahmanes dignos, hay que buscarlos por todos los medios, invitarlos personalmente y sostenerlos con dádivas».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that compassion expressed through giving is supreme dharma: giving to those who ask is good, but an even more attentive righteousness is to seek out the needy who do not beg and support them proactively.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (Anushasana Parva), he advises the listener on the proper spirit and method of charity—emphasizing not only responding to petitioners but also identifying and inviting the silent sufferers, particularly deserving brahmins, to receive aid.