Shloka 5
Nakṣatra-yoga-anusāreṇa Dāna-vidhiḥ
Gifts prescribed according to lunar mansions and yogas
ग्रियते याचमानो वै न जातु प्रियते ददत् । ददत् संजीवयत्येनमात्मानं च युधिष्ठिर,याचक मर जाता है, किंतु दाता कभी नहीं मरता। युधिष्ठिर! दाता इस याचकको और अपनेको भी जीवित रखता है
griyate yācamāno vai na jātu priyate dadat | dadat saṃjīvayaty enam ātmānaṃ ca yudhiṣṭhira ||
ภีษมะกล่าวว่า “ผู้ขอทานย่อมร่อยหรอจนพินาศ แต่ผู้ให้ไม่เคยพินาศแท้จริง โอ้ ยุธิษฐิระ ด้วยการให้ ผู้ให้ย่อมค้ำจุนผู้มาขอ—และค้ำจุนชีวิตของตนเองด้วย”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that dāna (generosity) is life-sustaining: the act of giving supports the needy and also preserves the giver’s own well-being and lasting worth. Begging is depicted as depleting, while giving is portrayed as strengthening and enduring.
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma, especially the duties of a ruler and householder. Here he emphasizes the ethical superiority and sustaining power of giving over the vulnerability and depletion associated with continual begging.