Shloka 82
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
प्रत्युपकुर्वन् बह्मपि न भाति पूर्वोपकारिणा तुल्य: । एक: करोति हि कृते निष्कारणमेव कुरुतेडन्य:
pratyupakurvan bahum api na bhāti pūrvopakāriṇā tulyāḥ | ekaḥ karoti hi kṛte niṣkāraṇam eva karoty anyaḥ ||
ビーシュマは言った。「たとえ恩を幾度も重ねて返そうとも、最初に恩を施した者と同じ輝きには至らぬ。なぜなら一人は受けたことへの返礼として善をなすが、もう一人は何の因もなく—求められずとも—自ら進んで善をなしたからである。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Repaying a favor is good, but the moral excellence of the first benefactor is higher, because the original act of help is done freely and without compulsion, whereas repayment is motivated by an existing obligation.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Bhishma teaches Yudhishthira about the hierarchy of virtues: spontaneous, causeless beneficence is portrayed as more admirable than even generous repayment.