Shloka 145
Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)
अभिगम्याभिगम्यैवं याचन्ते सततं नरा: । न चाप्युत्सहते दातुं वित्तरक्षी महाजनान्,याचक मनुष्य सदा निकट आ-आकर राजासे धनकी याचना करते हैं; किंतु जो लोग दानके श्रेष्ठ पात्र हैं, उनके लिये भी वह कुछ देनेका साहस नहीं करता। अपने धनको सर्वथा सुरक्षित रखना चाहता है
abhigamyābhigamyaivaṁ yācante satataṁ narāḥ | na cāpyutsahate dātuṁ vittarakṣī mahājanān ||
ビーシュマは言った。「乞う者たちは、何度も何度も近づいて来て、絶えず財を求める。だが財を守る者は、与える勇気を持たない——たとえ高徳で受けるにふさわしい者に対してさえ。彼はただ、自らの富を完全に守り抜こうとするのみである。」
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.