Shloka 10
Virūpākṣa’s Dāna and Gautama’s Burden — the approach of Rājadharma
तथोपकारिणं चैव मन्यते वज्चितं परम् | दत्त्वापि च धनं काले संतपत्युपकारिणे
tathopakāriṇaṃ caiva manyate vañcitaṃ param | dattvāpi ca dhanaṃ kāle santapaty upakāriṇe ||
Bhishma dit : «Même celui qui l’a aidé, il le tient pour entièrement dupé—pris dans son propre piège. Et quand bien même, à quelque moment, il donnerait des richesses à son bienfaiteur, il continue longtemps à s’en tourmenter et à s’en repentir.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns ingratitude and manipulative giving: a corrupt person treats even a benefactor as someone already trapped and, if he gives anything in return, he later regrets it—showing that his ‘charity’ is not rooted in dharma but in self-interest and resentment.
In Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct and character, Bhishma describes a negative type of person: one who exploits helpers, assumes superiority over them, and cannot give back without inner bitterness—illustrating traits to avoid in ethical life.