Brahmapūjā-kāraṇa-prśnaḥ and Keśava–Viṣvaksena-stuti
Question on Brahmin veneration; hymn on Kṛṣṇa as cosmic order
दीनश्न याचते चायमल्पेनापि हि तुष्यति । इति दद्याद् दरिद्राय कारुण्यादिति सर्वथा
dīnaś ca yācate cāyam alpenāpi hi tuṣyati | iti dadyād daridrāya kāruṇyād iti sarvathā ||
Bhishma enseigne que, lorsqu’un pauvre accablé vient mendier, il faut donner par compassion, en se disant : «Ce malheureux est dans un grand besoin et me supplie ; même un peu le contentera.» Ainsi, l’aumône au démuni doit être offerte en toute circonstance par miséricorde, non par orgueil ni par calcul.
भीष्म उवाच
Give charity to the poor out of compassion, recognizing that even a small gift can bring relief; the motive should be mercy rather than display or self-interest.
Bhishma, instructing on dharma, describes the proper inner attitude of a donor when approached by a needy beggar and urges giving to the destitute as a compassionate duty.