Vipulopākhyāna—Ruci-rakṣā and Śakra’s Māyā (विपुलोपाख्यानम्—रुचिरक्षणं शक्रमाया च)
भीष्म उवाच क्रिया भवति केषांचिदुपांशुव्रतमुत्तमम् । यो यो याचेत यत् किज्चित् सर्व दद्याम इत्यपि
bhīṣma uvāca
kriyā bhavati keṣāñcid upāṃśu-vratam uttamam |
yo yo yāceta yat kiñcit sarvaṃ dadyām ity api ||
毗湿摩曰:“噢,由提施提罗!有人以诸般行事为志业——如祭祀之务、奉师之礼(师资供养)、以及养护家室——皆为其所择之道。亦有人以近乎默然的克制之誓(低声持戒)为最高修持。故凡有乞者求何物,当以此心答之:‘我当施与’——不可使一人怀失望而去。”
भीष्म उवाच
Different people follow different legitimate paths—some through active duties and some through disciplined restraint—but in all cases one should cultivate generosity: when someone asks, respond with the intention to give and do not dismiss the petitioner with hopelessness.
In Bhishma’s instruction to Yudhishthira on dharma, he explains that both action-oriented life and vow-based restraint can be valid aims, and he emphasizes the ethical stance a giver should adopt toward those who come to ask for help.