Shloka 10
Virūpākṣa’s Dāna and Gautama’s Burden — the approach of Rājadharma
तथोपकारिणं चैव मन्यते वज्चितं परम् | दत्त्वापि च धनं काले संतपत्युपकारिणे
tathopakāriṇaṃ caiva manyate vañcitaṃ param | dattvāpi ca dhanaṃ kāle santapaty upakāriṇe ||
جو اس پر احسان کرے، اسے بھی وہ اپنے ہی جال میں پھنسا ہوا—بالکل ٹھگا ہوا—سمجھتا ہے۔ اور اگر کبھی وقت آنے پر اپنے محسن کو کچھ مال دے بھی دے، تو بھی اس پر وہ بہت مدت تک کڑھتا اور پچھتاتا رہتا ہے۔
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns ingratitude and manipulative giving: a corrupt person treats even a benefactor as someone already trapped and, if he gives anything in return, he later regrets it—showing that his ‘charity’ is not rooted in dharma but in self-interest and resentment.
In Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct and character, Bhishma describes a negative type of person: one who exploits helpers, assumes superiority over them, and cannot give back without inner bitterness—illustrating traits to avoid in ethical life.