Shloka 24
Rājapurohita-lakṣaṇa and Purūravas–Vāyu Saṃvāda
Varṇa, Sovereignty, and Abhaya-dāna
तेषु भोगेषु सर्वेषु न भीतो लभते सुखम् | अभयस्य हि यो दाता तस्यैव सुमहत् फलम् | न हि प्राणसमं दान त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते
teṣu bhogeṣu sarveṣu na bhīto labhate sukham | abhayasya hi yo dātā tasyaiva sumahat phalam | na hi prāṇasamaṃ dāna triṣu lokeṣu vidyate ||
Unter allen Genüssen erlangt nur der Furchtlose wahrhaft Glück. Denn wer Furchtlosigkeit schenkt, empfängt eine überaus große Frucht; wahrlich, in den drei Welten gibt es keine Gabe, die der Gabe des Lebens gleichkäme—dem Retten oder Bewahren des Lebens eines anderen.
ऐल उवाच
Educational Q&A
True happiness depends on freedom from fear, and the highest form of giving is to grant safety—especially by preserving another’s life. Such abhayadāna yields exceptionally great spiritual merit.
Aila speaks in a didactic context within Śānti Parva, emphasizing ethical instruction about charity and the supreme value of protecting others—teaching that giving fearlessness and safeguarding life surpasses ordinary pleasures and gifts.