Shloka 14
Śuka’s Nirveda: Vyāsa’s Admonition on Dharma, Impermanence, and ‘Imperishable Wealth’ (अक्षय-धन)
अनृशंस: शुचिर्दान्त: सत्यवागार्जवे स्थित: । योनिकर्मविशुद्धश्न पात्र स्याद् वेदविद् द्विज:,दयालु, पवित्र, जितेन्द्रिय, सत्यवादी, सरलतापूर्ण बर्ताव करनेवाला तथा योनिसे अर्थात् जन्मसे और कर्मसे शुद्ध वेदवेत्ता ब्राह्मण ही दान पानेका उत्तम पात्र है
anṛśaṁsaḥ śucir dāntaḥ satyavāg ārjave sthitaḥ | yonikarmaviśuddhaś ca pātraṁ syād vedavid dvijaḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: Seorang Brāhmaṇa yang mengetahui Veda menjadi penerima sedekah yang paling layak apabila ia berbelas kasih dan tidak kejam, suci dalam perilaku, menguasai diri, benar dalam tutur kata, teguh dalam kelurusan; serta bersih baik dari segi kelahiran (keturunan) mahupun perbuatan.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The core teaching is that the right recipient of charity (pātra) is defined by moral character and disciplined conduct—compassion, purity, self-restraint, truthfulness, and straightforwardness—together with recognized purity of lineage and deeds, and Vedic learning.
In the Śānti Parva’s dharma instruction, Bhīṣma is advising on norms of righteous giving (dāna), specifying the ethical qualifications that make a Veda-knowing Brahmin the most suitable recipient.