Shloka 5
अविश्वास-निति: ब्रह्मदत्त–पूजनी-संवादः
Policy of Caution: The Brahmadatta–Pūjanī Dialogue
यो वै न देवान् न पितृन् न मर्त्यान हविषार्चति । अनर्थकं धन तत्र प्राहुर्धमविदो जना:
bhīṣma uvāca | yo vai na devān na pitṝn na martyān haviṣārcati | anarthakaṃ dhanaṃ tatra prāhur dharmavido janāḥ ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ— ଯେ ହବିଷ୍ୟ ଦ୍ୱାରା ନ ଦେବମାନଙ୍କୁ, ନ ପିତୃମାନଙ୍କୁ, ନ ମନୁଷ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କୁ ପୂଜା କରେ, ତାହାର ଧନକୁ ଧର୍ମବିଦ୍ ଲୋକେ ନିଷ୍ଫଳ ଓ ଅର୍ଥହୀନ ବୋଲି କହନ୍ତି।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wealth is meaningful only when aligned with dharma—used to honor the gods, support ancestral rites, and serve living beings. If one hoards wealth without worship, giving, or social responsibility, dharma-knowers deem that wealth 'anarthaka' (without true purpose or fruit).
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs the king on righteous conduct and governance. Here he states a moral criterion for judging wealth: it is validated by sacrificial and social use (offerings to gods, rites for ancestors, and support of people), not merely by possession.