Shloka 12
Adhyāya 57: Tapas–Dāna Phala
On the Fruits of Austerity and Giving
मयूरान् कुक्कुटांश्चापि दात्यूहानू जीवजीवकान् । चकोरान् वानरान् हंसान् सारसां श्रक्रसाह्नयान्
mayūrān kukkuṭāṁś cāpi dātyūhānū jīvajīvakān | cakorān vānarān haṁsān sārasāṁ śakrasāhnayān
Bhīṣma said: “(One should give in charity) peacocks and cocks as well; dātyūha-birds, jīvajīvakā-birds, and cakoras; monkeys, swans, and cranes—along with birds known as śakrasāhnaya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse supports the dharmic ideal of dāna by listing living creatures as legitimate and valued gifts, implying that generosity includes offering useful, prized, or auspicious possessions for the welfare of others.
Bhīṣma is instructing on dharma and enumerating items suitable for donation; here he specifically lists various birds (and monkeys) as examples of gifts.