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:,“न मैं इसका हूँ न यह मेरा है तो भी यदि इसको कुछ न दूँ तो अपमानित होकर मेरा अनिष्ट कर डालेगा।” इस भयसे ही विद्वान् पुरुष जब किसी मूर्खको दान दे तो यह भयमूलक दान है
bhīṣma uvāca | nāsyāhaṃ na madīyo 'yaṃ pāpaṃ kuryād vimānitaḥ | iti dadyād bhayād eva dṛḍhaṃ mūḍhāya paṇḍitaḥ |
Bhishma berkata: “Aku bukan miliknya, dan dia juga bukan milikku; namun jika aku tidak memberinya apa-apa, kerana terasa dihina dia mungkin melakukan dosa terhadapku.” Maka seorang bijaksana boleh memberi dengan tegas—semata-mata kerana takut—kepada orang bodoh. Pemberian demikian ialah sedekah yang didorong ketakutan, bukan lahir daripada niat baik atau dharma.
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.