Shloka 145
Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)
अभिगम्याभिगम्यैवं याचन्ते सततं नरा: । न चाप्युत्सहते दातुं वित्तरक्षी महाजनान्
abhigamyābhigamyaivaṁ yācante satataṁ narāḥ | na cāpyutsahate dātuṁ vittarakṣī mahājanān ||
毗湿摩说：“人们一次又一次上前，连绵不断地乞求财物；而那守财之人却没有勇气施与——即便面对德高望重、堪受供养者亦然——他只一心要把财富全然护得周密。”
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse criticizes the mentality of hoarding: even when worthy recipients are present and requests are repeatedly made, the wealth-guarding person lacks the moral courage to give. It implies that true dharma includes timely generosity, not mere accumulation and protection of wealth.
In Bhishma’s instruction in the Shanti Parva, he describes a common social scene—people repeatedly approaching to ask for help—while portraying the miserly householder/king who refuses to give, even to distinguished and deserving persons, because he is preoccupied with safeguarding his riches.