Shloka 6
Nakṣatra-yoga-anusāreṇa Dāna-vidhiḥ
Gifts prescribed according to lunar mansions and yogas
आनुृशंस्य॑ परो धर्मो याचते यत् प्रदीयते । अयाचत: सीदमानानू् सर्वोपायैर्निमन्त्रयेत्
Ānṛśaṁsyaṁ paro dharmo yācate yat pradīyate | ayācataḥ sīdamānān sarvopāyair nimantrayet ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Ang pagbibigay na may habag ang pinakamataas na dharma—kapag ang kaloob ay ibinibigay sa humihingi. Ngunit yaong mga nagdurusa nang tahimik at hindi namamalimos, lalo na ang mga karapat-dapat na brahmana, ay dapat hanapin sa lahat ng paraan, anyayahan nang personal, at tulungan sa pamamagitan ng mga handog.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that compassion expressed through giving is supreme dharma: giving to those who ask is good, but an even more attentive righteousness is to seek out the needy who do not beg and support them proactively.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (Anushasana Parva), he advises the listener on the proper spirit and method of charity—emphasizing not only responding to petitioners but also identifying and inviting the silent sufferers, particularly deserving brahmins, to receive aid.