Shloka 22
Adhyāya 270 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on saṃnyāsa; Bhīṣma on calculable time, tamas, and karma
Vṛtra–Uśanā exemplum begins
यावद् धन प्रार्थयते ब्राह्मणो5यं सखा तव । देवानां शासनात् तावदसंख्येयं ददाम्यहम्,तुम्हारा सखा यह ब्राह्मण जितना धन चाहता हो, देवताओंकी आज्ञासे मैं उतना ही अथवा असंख्य धन इसे दे रहा हूँ
yāvad dhanaṃ prārthayate brāhmaṇo 'yaṃ sakhā tava | devānāṃ śāsanāt tāvad asaṅkhyeyaṃ dadāmy aham ||
مَنی بھدر نے کہا—جب تک یہ برہمن، جو تمہارا دوست ہے، دولت مانگتا رہے گا، دیوتاؤں کے حکم سے میں اسے اتنی ہی، بلکہ بے شمار دولت بھی دیتا رہوں گا۔
मणिभद्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Giving (dāna) is presented as a form of dharma carried out without calculation: when a worthy petitioner asks, the giver responds generously, seeing the act as aligned with (and even mandated by) a higher divine order.
Maṇibhadra addresses someone whose friend is a brāhmaṇa seeking wealth. He declares that, under the gods’ command, he will grant whatever is requested—indeed, even immeasurable wealth—emphasizing readiness to fulfill the supplicant’s need.