Shloka 23
Adhyāya 64: Dāna-prakāra—Suvarṇa, Pānīya-dāna, Ghṛta-dāna, and Upakaraṇa-dāna
Utility Gifts
अपीडिता: सुसंवृद्धा ये ददत्यनुकूलत: । तादृशेनाप्युपायेन यष्टव्यं नोद्यमाहतै:
apīḍitāḥ susaṃvṛddhā ye dadaty anukūlataḥ | tādṛśenāpy upāyena yaṣṭavyaṃ nodyamāhataiḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : Ceux qui sont prospères et peuvent donner des richesses de bon gré, sans faire souffrir personne — c’est avec ce qu’ils offrent, ou avec des biens acquis par des moyens tout aussi doux — qu’il convient d’accomplir le yajña. On ne doit pas entreprendre le sacrifice avec des richesses obtenues par des efforts rudes qui accablent le peuple.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Religious acts like yajña must be funded by ethically obtained wealth—preferably voluntary gifts from the prosperous or income gained through gentle, non-harmful means—not by oppressing people or extracting resources through harsh measures.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma, he advises the listener (Yudhiṣṭhira in this parva’s broader dialogue) about proper sources of wealth for ritual and public religious works, warning against financing sacrifice through people-harming exertion.