Shloka 20
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
नानार्थिको<र्थसम्बन्धं कृतघ्नेन समाचरेत् । अर्थी तु शक््यते भोक्तुं कृतकार्यो5वमन्यते । तस्मात् सर्वाणि कार्याणि सावशेषाणि कारयेत्
bhīṣma uvāca | nānārthiko 'rthasambandhaṃ kṛtaghnena samācaret | arthī tu śakyate bhoktuṃ kṛtakāryo 'vamanyate | tasmāt sarvāṇi kāryāṇi sāvaśeṣāṇi kārayet |
Bhīṣma dit : Celui qui poursuit de nombreux desseins ne doit pas nouer de rapports d’argent avec un ingrat, ni mener à parfaite fin l’affaire de quiconque. Car celui qui n’a pas encore atteint son but peut être amené à servir encore et encore ; mais une fois son dessein accompli, il tend à mépriser son bienfaiteur. Aussi faut-il faire exécuter les entreprises d’autrui en y laissant toujours quelque chose d’inachevé.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma warns that an ungrateful person often forgets benefactors once his need is met; therefore, one should be cautious in forming financial/interest-based ties with such people and should avoid making oneself entirely dispensable by completing every task to the last detail.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and conduct, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira with practical moral counsel, here focusing on how to manage relationships and obligations when dealing with people prone to ingratitude.