Shloka 30
Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant
धृतराष्ट उवाच ये दानशीला न प्रतिगृह्नते सदा नचाप्यर्थाक्षाददते परेभ्य: | येषामदेयमर्हते नास्ति किंचित् सर्वातिथ्या: सुप्रसादा जनाश्व
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | ye dānaśīlā na pratigṛhṇate sadā na cāpy arthākṣād adate parebhyaḥ | yeṣām adeyam arhate nāsti kiñcit sarvātithyāḥ suprasādā janāś ca ||
Sinabi ni Dhṛtarāṣṭra: “O dakilang pantas! Yaong mga nakatuon sa pagbibigay at hindi kailanman tumatanggap ng handog; yaong hindi kumukuha ng yaman ng iba sa pamamagitan ng dahas o pamimilit; yaong kapag may karapat-dapat na tatanggap ay walang anumang itinuturing na ‘hindi dapat ibigay’; yaong gumagalang at tumatanggap sa bawat panauhin at nananatiling mahabagin sa lahat—ang mga taong ganyan, na nabubuhay na wari’y isang walang patid na annasatra (pampublikong handog ng pagkain) at bukal ng kabutihan, ay nakaaabot sa daigdig ni Soma. Ngunit para kay Dhṛtarāṣṭra, kahit ang kahariang iyon ay hindi mararating.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises a dharmic ideal: give consistently, do not accept gifts for oneself, do not seize others’ wealth, and treat every person as a guest with kindness. Such conduct generates puṇya leading to heavenly attainment (Somaloka), while moral failure can bar one even from that reward.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra addresses a great sage and reflects on the destiny of the truly charitable and hospitable. In the surrounding discourse of Anuśāsana Parva, this functions as an ethical evaluation of conduct and its posthumous results, with Dhṛtarāṣṭra implicitly contrasting himself with the praised ideal.