Shloka 145
Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)
अभिगम्याभिगम्यैवं याचन्ते सततं नरा: । न चाप्युत्सहते दातुं वित्तरक्षी महाजनान्
abhigamyābhigamyaivaṁ yācante satataṁ narāḥ | na cāpyutsahate dātuṁ vittarakṣī mahājanān ||
Bhishma dit : «Sans cesse, les hommes s’avancent, encore et encore, pour mendier. Mais celui qui garde sa richesse ne trouve pas le courage de donner—même à des bénéficiaires éminents et dignes—car il ne vise qu’à tenir ses biens parfaitement à l’abri.»
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse criticizes the mentality of hoarding: even when worthy recipients are present and requests are repeatedly made, the wealth-guarding person lacks the moral courage to give. It implies that true dharma includes timely generosity, not mere accumulation and protection of wealth.
In Bhishma’s instruction in the Shanti Parva, he describes a common social scene—people repeatedly approaching to ask for help—while portraying the miserly householder/king who refuses to give, even to distinguished and deserving persons, because he is preoccupied with safeguarding his riches.