Shloka 8
Brahmapūjā-kāraṇa-prśnaḥ and Keśava–Viṣvaksena-stuti
Question on Brahmin veneration; hymn on Kṛṣṇa as cosmic order
नास्याहं न मदीयो<यं पापं कुर्याद् विमानित: । इति दद्याद् भयादेव दृढं मूढाय पण्डित:
bhīṣma uvāca | nāsyāhaṃ na madīyo 'yaṃ pāpaṃ kuryād vimānitaḥ | iti dadyād bhayād eva dṛḍhaṃ mūḍhāya paṇḍitaḥ |
भीष्म म्हणाले— ‘मी याचा नाही आणि हा माझा नाही; तरी मी याला काही दिले नाही तर हा अपमानित होऊन माझ्याविरुद्ध पाप करील’— या भीतीनेच ज्ञानी पुरुष मूर्खाला ठामपणे दान देतो; हे भयमूलक दान होय।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma distinguishes motives behind giving: a gift offered merely to avert harm from an offended fool is ‘fear-based giving’ (bhaya-mūlaka dāna), ethically inferior to giving rooted in goodwill, duty, or compassion.
In his instruction on conduct and charity, Bhishma explains a scenario where a wise person gives something to a foolish, easily insulted person—not out of affection or obligation, but to prevent the person from retaliating with wrongdoing.