Yudhishthira said To which of two Brahmanas, when both happen to be equally pure in conduct, equally, gifted with learning and purity, of birth and blood, but differing from each other in only this, viz., the one solicits and the other does not-I ask O grandfather, would a gift be more meritorious?

Bhishma said It has been said, O son of Pritha, that a gift made to an unsoliciting person yields greater merit than one made to a person who begs. One endued with contentment is certainly more deserving than that person who is shorn of that virtue and is, therefore, helpless amidst the storms and buffets of the world.

The firmness of a Kshatriya consists in the protection he gives to others. The firmness of a Brahmana consists in his refusal to beg. The Brahmana endued with steadiness and learning and contentment gladdens the celestials.

The wise have said that an act of begging on the part of a poor man is a great reproach. Thosc persons who solicit others are said to annoy the world like thieves and robbers.

The person who solicits is said to meet with death. The giver, however, is said not to meet with death. The giver is said to give life to him who solicits. By an act of gift, O Yudhishthira, the giver is said to rescue his own self also.

Mercy is a very high virtue. Led by niercy people make gifts to those who solicit. Those, however, who do not beg but are sunk into poverty and distress, should be respectfully invited for receiving help.

If such Brahmanas, who must be considered as the foremost of their order, live in your kingdom, you should consider them as fire covered with ashes.

Burning with penances, they are capable of consuming the whole Earth. Such persons, O son of Kuru's race though not generally adored, should still he considered as worthy of adoration in every way.

Gifted with knowledge and spiritual vision and penances and Yoga, such persons always deserve our adoration. O scorcher of enemies, do you always offer adoration to such Brahmanas.

One should go of his own accord to those foremost of Brahmanas who do not solicit any body and make gifts to them of various kinds of wealth in abundance. The merit that comes from properly pouring libations on the sacred fire every morning and evening, is acquired by are the person who makes gifts to a Brahmana endowed with learning, with the Vedas, and with high and excellent vows.

You should, O son of Kunti, invite those foremost of Brahmanas, who are cleansed by learning and the Vedas and vows, who live, in independence, whose Vedic studies and penances concealed without being announced from the house top, and who observe excellent vows, and honour them with gifts of well-built and charming houses containing servitors and robes and furniture, and all other articles of pleasure and enjoyment.

Knowing all duties and possessed of minute vision, those foremost of Brahmanas, O Yudhishthira, may accept the gifts offered to them with devotion and respect, thinking, that they should not refuse and disappoint the giver.

You should invite those Brahmanas whose wives wait for their return like tillers in expectation of rain. Having fed them well, you should present additional food to them so that upon their return home their expectant wives might be able to distribute that food among their children who had clamoured for food but who had been consoled with promises.

Brahmacharins of controlled senses, O son, by eating at one's house in the forenoon, cause the three sacrificial fires to be pleased with the householder at whose house they eat.

Let the sacrifice of gift proceed in your house at midday, O son, and do you also distribute kine and gold and dresses. By acting thus, you are sure to please the king of the celestials himself.

That would constitute your third sacrifice, O Yudhishthira, in which offerings are made to the deities, the Departed Manes and the Brahmanas. By such sacrifice you are sure to please the Vishvedevas.

Let mercy to all creatures, giving to all creatures what is due to them, controlling the senses, renunciation, firmness, and truth, form the final bath of that sacrifice which is formed by gift.

This is the sacrifice that is spread out for you-a sacrifice which is sanctified by devotion and faith, and who has a large sacrificial gift attached to it. This sacrifice which is formed by gift is superior to all other sacrifices. O son, let this sacrifice be always celebrated by you.