Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 216
Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
वाजपेयेषु दशसु प्रादां तेष्वपि चाप्यहम् । इनके अतिरिक्त भी जो वस्तुएँ वेदोंमें दक्षिणाके अवयवरूपसे बतायी गयी हैं, उन सबको मैंने दस वाजपेय यज्ञोंका अनुष्ठान करके दान किया था
vājapeyeṣu daśasu prādāṃ teṣv api cāpy aham |
Bhagīratha said: “In ten Vājapeya sacrifices I made gifts; and in those rites as well, I bestowed all the additional items that the Vedas describe as constituent parts of the sacrificial fee (dakṣiṇā).” The statement underscores the ethic of complete, scripture-aligned generosity—fulfilling ritual duty not partially, but in full measure.
भगीरथ उवाच
Educational Q&A
That righteous giving (dāna) should be complete and aligned with śāstra: one should not perform grand rites while neglecting the full, Veda-prescribed dakṣiṇā and its constituent gifts.
Bhagīratha speaks about his past religious observances, stating that he performed ten Vājapeya sacrifices and, within them, donated not only the main gifts but also all additional items described in the Vedas as parts of the dakṣiṇā.