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 |
毗湿摩说道：“噢，婆罗多啊，品类与行止迥异之人，并非都配受礼敬；因此当以专注之心，日日考察谁才是真正的堪受者。无嗔、真实语、不害、自制、质直、无恶意、谦卑、知耻、忍耐、纪律与内心寂静——若这些德性自然显现于其人，而不见任何违背正法之行——唯此等人，方为布施之上器，亦当受尊敬。”
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.