Shloka 8
Brahmapūjā-kāraṇa-prśnaḥ and Keśava–Viṣvaksena-stuti
Question on Brahmin veneration; hymn on Kṛṣṇa as cosmic order
नास्याहं न मदीयो<यं पापं कुर्याद् विमानित: । इति दद्याद् भयादेव दृढं मूढाय पण्डित:
bhīṣma uvāca | nāsyāhaṃ na madīyo 'yaṃ pāpaṃ kuryād vimānitaḥ | iti dadyād bhayād eva dṛḍhaṃ mūḍhāya paṇḍitaḥ |
Bhishma dit : «Je ne lui appartiens pas, et il ne m’appartient pas ; pourtant, si je ne lui donne rien, se sentant humilié, il pourrait commettre un péché contre moi.» Ainsi, un homme sage peut donner avec fermeté—uniquement par crainte—à un sot. Un tel don est inspiré par la peur, non par la bienveillance ni par le dharma.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma distinguishes motives behind giving: a gift offered merely to avert harm from an offended fool is ‘fear-based giving’ (bhaya-mūlaka dāna), ethically inferior to giving rooted in goodwill, duty, or compassion.
In his instruction on conduct and charity, Bhishma explains a scenario where a wise person gives something to a foolish, easily insulted person—not out of affection or obligation, but to prevent the person from retaliating with wrongdoing.