Shloka 23
Kośārtha-Rājadharma: Ethical Revenue Collection and Social Regulation (कोशार्थ-राजधर्मः)
Devanagari script
आपशद्येव तु याचन्ते येषां नास्ति परिग्रह: । दातव्यं धर्मतस्तेभ्यस्त्वनुक्रोशाद् भयान्न तु
Transliteration
āpadyeva tu yācante yeṣāṃ nāsti parigrahaḥ | dātavyaṃ dharmatas tebhyaḥ tv anukrośād bhayān na tu ||
Translation
毗湿摩说道：那些毫无积蓄与产业的人，唯在灾厄临身时才会乞求。对这样的人，应当依于法（dharma）而施与，出于悲悯之心——绝不可因恐惧或胁迫而给。
Word by Word
आपत्सुin calamities / in times of distress
आपत्सु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootआपद्
FormFeminine, Locative, Plural
यत्when/if
यत्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयत्
एवonly/indeed
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
याचन्तेthey beg/ask
याचन्ते:
TypeVerb
Rootयाच्
FormPresent, Third, Plural, Atmanepada
येषाम्of whom/whose
येषाम्:
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
अस्तिthere is/exists
अस्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
परिग्रहःpossessions/accumulation
परिग्रहः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपरिग्रह
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
दातव्यम्should be given
दातव्यम्:
TypeVerbal (Gerundive)
Rootदा
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
धर्मतःaccording to dharma/righteously
धर्मतः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootधर्म
तेभ्यःto them
तेभ्यः:
Sampradana
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Dative, Plural
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
अनुक्रोशात्out of compassion
अनुक्रोशात्:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootअनुक्रोश
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
भयात्out of fear
भयात्:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootभय
FormNeuter, Ablative, Singular
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
तुhowever/but
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
Speaker
भीष्य उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Charity should be guided by dharma and compassion: help those who have no reserves and therefore ask only in crisis, but do not give out of fear, pressure, or intimidation.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Bhīṣma advises the listener on proper giving, distinguishing compassionate, duty-based charity from coerced or fear-driven payment.