Shloka 2
Nakṣatra-yoga-anusāreṇa Dāna-vidhiḥ
Gifts prescribed according to lunar mansions and yogas
युधिष्ठिरने पूछा--पितामह! उत्तम आचरण, विद्या और कुलमें एक समान प्रतीत होनेवाले दो ब्राह्मणोंमेंसे यदि एक याचक हो और दूसरा अयाचक तो किसको दान देनेसे उत्तम फलकी प्राप्ति होती है? ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | śreyo vai yācataḥ pārtha dānam āhur ayācate | arthamo vai dhṛtimān kṛpaṇād adhṛtātmanaḥ ||
भीष्म म्हणाले—हे पार्थ (युधिष्ठिर)! ज्ञानीजन सांगतात की मागणाऱ्यापेक्षा न मागणाऱ्याला दिलेले दान अधिक श्रेष्ठ व कल्याणकारी असते. तसेच, अस्थिर मनाच्या कृपणापेक्षा धैर्यवान व संयमी पुरुष अधिक सन्मानास पात्र ठरतो.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Charity is ethically superior when offered proactively to a worthy person who does not beg (ayācaka), rather than merely responding to a beggar (yācaka). The verse also links worthiness with inner steadiness: self-controlled fortitude is more honorable than miserly, unstable-minded grasping.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Yudhiṣṭhira asks Bhīṣma which of two equally qualified brāhmaṇas should receive a gift—one who begs and one who does not. Bhīṣma replies that giving to the non-begging worthy recipient is considered more auspicious and fruitful, and he praises steadiness over miserly lack of self-control.