Shloka 61
Adhyāya 64: Dāna-prakāra—Suvarṇa, Pānīya-dāna, Ghṛta-dāna, and Upakaraṇa-dāna
Utility Gifts
परंतप युधिष्ठिर! जैसे सब प्राणी मेघके सहारे जीवन धारण करते हैं
bhīṣma uvāca | parantapa yudhiṣṭhira! yathā sarve prāṇino meghasya sahāreṇa jīvanaṃ dhārayanti, yathā pakṣiṇo mahā-vṛkṣasya āśrayaṃ labdhvā vasanti, tathā yathā rākṣasāḥ kuberaṃ devāś ca indraṃ āśritya jīvanaṃ dhārayanti, evam eva tava jīvati sarvā prajā tvatta eva svāṃ jīvikāṃ pravartayet, tava suhṛdaś ca bhrātṛ-bandhavaś ca tvayi eva avalambitā jīvanaṃ nirvaheyuḥ ||
ビーシュマは言った。「おお、ユディシュティラ、敵を屈する者よ。すべての生きものが雨をもたらす雲に依って命を保ち、鳥が大樹を庇護として住まい、また夜叉と羅刹がクベーラに支えられて生き、神々がインドラに支えられて生きるように――汝が生きているかぎり、国の民すべてが汝によって生計を立て、汝の友と親族、兄弟と縁者もまた汝に依りて生を営むがよい。」ここに、聖なる『マハーバーラタ』アヌシャーサナ・パルヴァ、ダーナ・ダルマ章、第六十一章。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s dharma is to be the sustaining support of society: like rain for creatures or a great tree for birds, the ruler must ensure the people’s livelihood and provide dependable protection and maintenance for friends and kin as well.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction on gifts and righteous conduct, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on the duties of rulership, using cosmic and social analogies (clouds, tree, Kubera, Indra) to stress the king’s role as the central pillar of public welfare.