Shloka 10
Virūpākṣa’s Dāna and Gautama’s Burden — the approach of Rājadharma
तथोपकारिणं चैव मन्यते वज्चितं परम् | दत्त्वापि च धनं काले संतपत्युपकारिणे
tathopakāriṇaṃ caiva manyate vañcitaṃ param | dattvāpi ca dhanaṃ kāle santapaty upakāriṇe ||
ଯେ ତାହାର ଉପକାର କରେ, ସେହି ଉପକାରୀକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ସେ ନିଜ ଜାଲରେ ପଡ଼ି ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଠକାଯାଇଛି ବୋଲି ଭାବେ। ଆଉ କେବେ ସମୟ ଆସି ଉପକାରୀକୁ ଧନ ଦେଇଦେଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ, ତାହା ପାଇଁ ସେ ଦୀର୍ଘକାଳ ଧରି ଖେଦ ଓ ପଶ୍ଚାତ୍ତାପ କରିଥାଏ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns ingratitude and manipulative giving: a corrupt person treats even a benefactor as someone already trapped and, if he gives anything in return, he later regrets it—showing that his ‘charity’ is not rooted in dharma but in self-interest and resentment.
In Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct and character, Bhishma describes a negative type of person: one who exploits helpers, assumes superiority over them, and cannot give back without inner bitterness—illustrating traits to avoid in ethical life.