Shloka 2
Vipulopākhyāna—Ruci-rakṣā and Śakra’s Māyā (विपुलोपाख्यानम्—रुचिरक्षणं शक्रमाया च)
भीष्म उवाच क्रिया भवति केषांचिदुपांशुव्रतमुत्तमम् । यो यो याचेत यत् किज्चित् सर्व दद्याम इत्यपि
bhīṣma uvāca
kriyā bhavati keṣāñcid upāṃśu-vratam uttamam |
yo yo yāceta yat kiñcit sarvaṃ dadyām ity api ||
ಭೀಷ್ಮನು ಹೇಳಿದರು— ಯುಧಿಷ್ಠಿರ! ಕೆಲವರಿಗೆ ಯಜ್ಞ, ಗುರುದಕ್ಷಿಣೆ, ಕುಟುಂಬಪೋಷಣೆ ಮೊದಲಾದ ಕ್ರಿಯೆಗಳೇ ಅಭೀಷ್ಟ; ಇನ್ನೂ ಕೆಲವರಿಗೆ ಉಪಾಂಶು—ಮೌನಸಂಯಮದ ವ್ರತವೇ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ಶಿಸ್ತು. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಯಾವ ಯಾಚಕನು ಏನನ್ನು ಬೇಡಿದರೂ, ‘ನಾನು ನೀಡುವೆ’ ಎಂಬ ಮನೋಭಾವದಿಂದಲೇ ಉತ್ತರಿಸಬೇಕು; ಯಾರನ್ನೂ ನಿರಾಶೆಗೊಳಿಸಿ ಕಳುಹಿಸಬಾರದು.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Different people follow different legitimate paths—some through active duties and some through disciplined restraint—but in all cases one should cultivate generosity: when someone asks, respond with the intention to give and do not dismiss the petitioner with hopelessness.
In Bhishma’s instruction to Yudhishthira on dharma, he explains that both action-oriented life and vow-based restraint can be valid aims, and he emphasizes the ethical stance a giver should adopt toward those who come to ask for help.