Shloka 27
Daśagrīva-boonāvaraṇa, Viṣṇv-avatāra-niyoga, Vānara-sahāya-janana, Mantharā-nirmāṇa
युधिछिर उवाच भगवन् दानधर्माणां तपसो वा महामुने । किंस्विद् बहुगुणं प्रेत्य कि वा दुष्करमुच्यते,युधिष्ठिरने पूछा--भगवन्! महामुने! दानधर्म एवं तपस्या--इनमेंसे किसका फल परलोकमें अधिक माना गया है? और इन दोनोंमें कौन दुष्कर बताया जाता है
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | bhagavan dānadharmāṇāṃ tapaso vā mahāmune | kiṃ svid bahuguṇaṃ pretya kiṃ vā duṣkaram ucyate ||
قال يودهيشثيرا: «أيها المبارك، أيها الناسك العظيم—بين دارما العطاء (دانا) وممارسة التقشّف (تاباس)، أيّهما يُعَدّ أعظم ثمرةً بعد الموت؟ ومن هذين، أيّهما يُقال إنه أشدّ عُسراً في الإنجاز؟»
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a classical dharma inquiry: how to evaluate spiritual practices by (1) their fruit in the hereafter and (2) their practical difficulty. It invites a nuanced ethical comparison between outward beneficence (dāna) and inward discipline (tapas).
In the Vana Parva dialogue setting, Yudhiṣṭhira respectfully questions a revered sage about the relative merit and difficulty of two major paths of dharma—charitable giving and austerity—seeking guidance on what most benefits one beyond death.