Shloka 2
अहिंसयित्वा ब्रह्महत्याविधानम् / Brahmahatyā incurred without physical violence
भीष्म उवाच स्ववृत्तिमभिपन्नाय लिज़्िने चेतराय च । देयमाहुर्महाराज उभावेतौ तपस्विनौ
bhīṣma uvāca | svavṛttim abhipannāya liṅgine cetarāya ca | deyam āhur mahārāja ubhāv etau tapasvinau ||
Sinabi ni Bhīṣma: “O dakilang hari, ipinahahayag na ang limos ay dapat ibigay sa kapwa: sa Brāhmaṇa na tumatahak sa kanyang wastong kabuhayan upang mapangalagaan ang buhay—maging may panlabas na tanda ng pagtalima sa pag-aayuno at disiplina o wala. Sapagkat kapwa sila, na nakasalig sa kanilang nararapat na tungkulin, ay itinuturing na mapagpigil at karapat-dapat tumanggap ng kawanggawa.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Charity should be guided by dharma rather than mere outward appearance: a Brahmin who sustains himself through a rightful, dharmic livelihood for preserving life is a fit recipient of alms whether he displays ascetic insignia (liṅga) or not.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction on dāna-dharma, Bhishma advises the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) about who deserves gifts, affirming that both marked ascetics and those without external marks—if grounded in proper duty—are worthy recipients.