Shloka 20
Adhyāya 60: Dāna vs. Yajña—Royal Giving, Protection, and Karmic Share
“दानसे यश, अहिंसासे आरोग्य तथा ब्राह्मणोंकी सेवासे राज्य एवं अतिशय ब्राह्मणत्वकी प्राप्ति होती है ।। पानीयस्य प्रदानेन कीर्तिर्भवति शाश्वती । अन्नस्य तु प्रदानेन तृप्पन्ते कामभोगत:,“जल दान करनेसे मनुष्यको अक्षय कीर्ति प्राप्त होती है, तथा अन्न-दान करनेसे मनुष्यको काम और भोगसे पूर्णतः तृप्ति मिलती है
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: dānase yaśaḥ, ahiṃsāse ārogyaṃ tathā brāhmaṇānāṃ sevāse rājyaṃ evaṃ atiśaya-brāhmaṇatvasya prāptiḥ bhavati. pānīyasya pradānena kīrtir bhavati śāśvatī; annasya tu pradānena tṛpyanti kāmabhogataḥ.
Vaiśampāyana said: “From giving arises fame; from non-violence, health; and from serving Brahmins come sovereignty and an exceptional attainment of Brahminical excellence. By gifting drinking water one gains imperishable renown, and by gifting food one becomes fully satisfied in regard to desires and enjoyments.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links specific virtues to specific fruits: charity brings good reputation, non-violence supports health, respectful service to Brahmins yields worldly authority and elevated spiritual-social excellence, water-giving grants lasting renown, and food-giving brings deep contentment regarding desires and pleasures.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-oriented discourse, Vaiśampāyana reports a teaching that enumerates the ethical results of key dharmic acts—especially forms of dāna (water and food) and the virtues of ahiṃsā and service—presented as practical guidance on righteous conduct.