Shloka 6
Brahmapūjā-kāraṇa-prśnaḥ and Keśava–Viṣvaksena-stuti
Question on Brahmin veneration; hymn on Kṛṣṇa as cosmic order
भारत! धर्म, अर्थ, भय, कामना और दया--इन पाँच हेतुओंसे दानको पाँच प्रकारका जानना चाहिये। अब जिन कारणोंसे दान देना उचित है, उनको सुनो ।।
bhārata! dharma-artha-bhaya-kāmanā-dayā—ebhiḥ pañcabhir hetubhiḥ dānaṃ pañcadhā jñātavyam. adhunā yeṣu kāraṇeṣu dānaṃ pradātum ucitaṃ, tān śṛṇu. iha kīrtim avāpnoti pretya cānuttamaṃ sukham; iti dānaṃ pradātavyaṃ brāhmaṇebhyo ’n-asūyatā.
Bhīṣma dit : «Ô Bhārata, selon cinq mobiles—dharma, gain ou richesse, peur, désir et compassion—le don doit être connu comme ayant cinq formes. Écoute maintenant les raisons pour lesquelles donner est véritablement convenable. Celui qui donne obtient la renommée en ce monde et, après la mort, la félicité suprême. C’est pourquoi, sans envie ni amertume, il faut donner aux brahmanes.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that charity should be evaluated by its motive: it can arise from dharma, gain, fear, desire, or compassion. The ethically proper form is giving grounded in dharma—done without envy or grudging—bringing honor in this life and the highest welfare after death.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on righteous conduct. Here he classifies types of giving by motive and urges dharma-based giving, specifically recommending gifts to Brahmins with a mind free of ill-will.