Shloka 82
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
प्रत्युपकुर्वन् बह्मपि न भाति पूर्वोपकारिणा तुल्य: । एक: करोति हि कृते निष्कारणमेव कुरुतेडन्य:
pratyupakurvan bahum api na bhāti pūrvopakāriṇā tulyāḥ | ekaḥ karoti hi kṛte niṣkāraṇam eva karoty anyaḥ ||
Dijo Bhishma: «Aunque alguien devuelva una bondad multiplicada muchas veces, no resplandece como igual al que primero otorgó el favor. Pues uno actúa sólo en respuesta a lo que se le hizo, mientras que el otro hizo el bien sin causa que lo impulsara: libremente y sin que se lo pidieran.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Repaying a favor is good, but the moral excellence of the first benefactor is higher, because the original act of help is done freely and without compulsion, whereas repayment is motivated by an existing obligation.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Bhishma teaches Yudhishthira about the hierarchy of virtues: spontaneous, causeless beneficence is portrayed as more admirable than even generous repayment.