Shloka 3
Adhyāya 64: Dāna-prakāra—Suvarṇa, Pānīya-dāna, Ghṛta-dāna, and Upakaraṇa-dāna
Utility Gifts
अन्तर्वेद्यां च यद् दत्तं श्रद्धया चानृशंस्यत: । किंस्विन्नै:श्रेयसं तात तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह
antarvedyāṁ ca yad dattaṁ śraddhayā cānṛśaṁsyaḥ | kiṁsvid naiḥśreyasaṁ tāta tan me brūhi pitāmaha ||
Yudhiṣṭhira sprach: „O lieber Großvater, sage mir: Was von diesen beiden bringt das höhere Heil—Gaben, die innerhalb des heiligen Opferplatzes mit Glauben dargebracht werden, oder Gaben, die außerhalb davon aus Mitgefühl und ohne Grausamkeit gegeben werden?“
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical inquiry about dāna: whether ritual-context giving (within the consecrated vedi, done with śraddhā) or compassion-driven giving (outside the ritual space, motivated by anṛśaṁsya) is more conducive to naiḥśreyasa, the highest welfare. It invites a hierarchy of values—external ritual propriety versus inner moral intention.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Yudhiṣṭhira questions the grandsire Bhīṣma, seeking guidance on the relative merit of two kinds of charitable giving: offerings made within a sacrificial/altar setting with faith, and gifts given beyond that setting out of compassion.