Shloka 6
Nakṣatra-yoga-anusāreṇa Dāna-vidhiḥ
Gifts prescribed according to lunar mansions and yogas
आनुृशंस्य॑ परो धर्मो याचते यत् प्रदीयते । अयाचत: सीदमानानू् सर्वोपायैर्निमन्त्रयेत्
Ānṛśaṁsyaṁ paro dharmo yācate yat pradīyate | ayācataḥ sīdamānān sarvopāyair nimantrayet ||
Bhishma berkata: “Memberi dengan welas asih adalah dharma yang tertinggi—yakni ketika pemberian diserahkan kepada orang yang memohon. Namun mereka yang menderita dalam diam dan tidak meminta—terutama brahmana yang patut—harus dicari dengan segala cara, diundang sendiri, dan ditopang dengan derma.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that compassion expressed through giving is supreme dharma: giving to those who ask is good, but an even more attentive righteousness is to seek out the needy who do not beg and support them proactively.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (Anushasana Parva), he advises the listener on the proper spirit and method of charity—emphasizing not only responding to petitioners but also identifying and inviting the silent sufferers, particularly deserving brahmins, to receive aid.