Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 51
तीर्थवंशोपदेशः
Tīrtha-vaṃśa Upadeśa: Instruction on the Fruits of Sacred Waters
तद्धभक्तास्तद्गृहा राजंस्तद्धलास्तदपाश्रया: । अर्थिनश्व भवन्त्यर्थे तेषु दत्त महाफलम्
tad-dharma-bhaktās tad-gṛhā rājan tad-balās tad-apāśrayāḥ | arthinaś ca bhavanty arthe teṣu dattaṁ mahāphalam, nareśvara ||
Bhishma said: “O king, those devoted to that very dharma, whose households are grounded in dharma, whose strength is dharma, and who take refuge in dharma—if, when necessity arises, they come as supplicants seeking aid, then a gift given to such people yields great spiritual fruit, O lord of men.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Charity becomes especially fruitful when directed to people firmly established in dharma—those whose devotion, household life, strength, and refuge are all grounded in righteous conduct—particularly when they seek help due to genuine necessity.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction on gifts and conduct, Bhishma advises the king about worthy recipients of charity, emphasizing that giving to dharma-centered supplicants yields great results.