Shloka 52
तीर्थवंशोपदेशः
Tīrtha-vaṃśa Upadeśa: Instruction on the Fruits of Sacred Waters
तस्करेभ्य: परेभ्यो वा ये भयार्ता युधिष्ठिर । अर्थिनो भोक्तुमिच्छन्ति तेषु दत्त महाफलम्
taskarebhyaḥ parebhyo vā ye bhayārtā yudhiṣṭhira | arthino bhoktum icchanti teṣu dattaṃ mahāphalam ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai Yudhishthira, bila para pemohon datang dalam kesesakan karena takut—entah kepada pencuri atau kepada musuh—dan mereka hanya meminta makanan, maka pemberian kepada mereka menghasilkan pahala yang besar.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Giving food to people who arrive in fear and distress—seeking only sustenance—is a highly meritorious act; charity is judged by the recipient’s vulnerability and immediate need.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma to Yudhiṣṭhira, he highlights a specific case of dāna: feeding those who have fled danger from robbers or enemies, emphasizing the exceptional spiritual fruit of such compassionate giving.