Shloka 8
Vipulopākhyāna—Ruci-rakṣā and Śakra’s Māyā (विपुलोपाख्यानम्—रुचिरक्षणं शक्रमाया च)
इनसे भिन्न प्रकारके तथा भिन्न बर्ताववाले जो लोग हैं, वे सब सत्कारके पात्र नहीं हैं; अतः एकाग्रचित्त होकर प्रतिदिन सुपात्र पुरुषोंकी परीक्षा करनी चाहिये ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | akrodhaḥ satyavacanam ahiṃsā dama ārjavam | adroho 'nabhimānaś ca hrīs titikṣā damaḥ śamaḥ | bhārata! ete guṇāḥ yatra svabhāvataḥ dṛśyante, dharmaviruddhaṃ ca karma na dṛśyate, te eva dānasya uttamapātrāḥ satkārārhāś ca |
Sinabi ni Bhīṣma: “O Bharata, yaong naiiba ang uri at asal ay hindi lahat karapat-dapat parangalan; kaya, sa isip na nakatuon, dapat suriin araw-araw kung sino ang tunay na su-pātra. Kawalan ng galit, pagsasalita ng katotohanan, di-karahasan, pagpipigil sa sarili, pagiging tuwid, kawalan ng masamang hangarin, kababaang-loob, pagkamahiyain, pagtitiis, disiplina, at kapanatagan ng loob—kapag ang mga katangiang ito’y likás na nakikita sa isang tao at walang nakikitang gawaing laban sa dharma—sila lamang ang pinakamainam na tatanggap ng kaloob at karapat-dapat igalang.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Charity and honor should be directed only to truly worthy recipients. Bhishma lists ethical virtues—non-anger, truthfulness, non-violence, self-restraint, straightforwardness, non-malice, humility, modesty, forbearance, discipline, and mental calm—and says that those in whom these appear naturally, with no conduct opposed to dharma, are the best recipients of gifts and respect.
In the Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma, including the ethics of giving. Here he advises careful daily discernment in selecting recipients, emphasizing that social difference or outward appearance is not enough—moral character and dharmic conduct determine who deserves support and honor.