Shloka 12
Virūpākṣa’s Dāna and Gautama’s Burden — the approach of Rājadharma
ब्राह्मणेभ्य: प्रदायाग्रं यः सुहृद्धिः सहा श्रुते । स प्रेत्य लभते स्वर्गमिह चानन्त्यमश्लुते
brāhmaṇebhyaḥ pradāyāgraṃ yaḥ suhṛdbhiḥ sahāśnute | sa pretya labhate svargam iha cānantyam aśnute ||
Bhishma dijo: «Quien primero ofrece la porción principal a los bráhmanas y sólo después come junto a sus bienhechores y amigos, goza de dicha inagotable en esta vida y, tras la muerte, alcanza el cielo.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Prioritize respectful giving—especially offering the best portion first to worthy recipients (here, Brāhmaṇas)—and then partake with one’s companions. Such disciplined generosity yields well-being in this life and heavenly reward after death.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira a rule of conduct for householders: before eating, one should first make an offering to Brāhmaṇas; this practice is praised as producing both worldly happiness and posthumous attainment of Svarga.