Shloka 136
Nakṣatra-yoga-anusāreṇa Dāna-vidhiḥ
Gifts prescribed according to lunar mansions and yogas
कार्यमित्येव मन्वाना धर्मज्ञा: सूक्ष्मदर्शिन: | युधिष्ठिर! वे धर्मज्ञ तथा सूक्ष्मदर्शी ब्राह्मण तुम्हारे श्रद्धायुक्त दानको कर्तव्यबुद्धिसे किया हुआ मानकर अवश्य स्वीकार करेंगे
kāryam ity eva manvānā dharmajñāḥ sūkṣmadarśinaḥ | yudhiṣṭhira! te dharmajñās tathā sūkṣmadarśī brāhmaṇās tava śraddhāyukta-dānaṃ kartavyabuddhyā kṛtaṃ matvā avaśyaṃ svīkariṣyanti ||
Bhishma dit : «Ô Yudhishthira, ces brahmanes — connaisseurs du dharma et d’un discernement subtil — accepteront assurément ton don, comprenant qu’il a été offert avec foi et avec un sens net du devoir. Car les sages jugent l’aumône non par sa seule apparence, mais par l’intention accordée au dharma qui la porte.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A gift becomes ethically sound when it is offered with śraddhā (sincere faith) and kartavyabuddhi (a sense of duty). The truly wise—dharmajña and sūkṣmadarśin—evaluate giving by the giver’s intention aligned with dharma, and therefore accept such a donation without suspicion.
Bhishma is instructing Yudhishthira on the principles of righteous giving. He reassures him that discerning Brahmins will accept Yudhishthira’s donation because they will recognize it as a dutiful, faith-filled act rather than a self-serving or tainted offering.