Shloka 106
Nakṣatra-yoga-anusāreṇa Dāna-vidhiḥ
Gifts prescribed according to lunar mansions and yogas
विद्यावेदब्रतवति तद्दानफलमुच्यते । जो याचना नहीं करते
bhīṣma uvāca | vidyāvedabratavati taddānaphalam ucyate |
Bhishma said: “Now the fruit of giving is declared in the case of one who is learned, versed in the Veda, and observant of sacred vows. One should not wait to be asked; rather, one should go of one’s own accord and offer various necessities to those who do not beg. The merit gained by performing the Agnihotra properly at dawn and dusk is likewise gained by giving to a Brahmin who knows the Veda and lives by vows.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Give proactively—do not wait for a request—especially to learned, Veda-versed, vow-observant Brahmins; such giving yields merit comparable to the properly performed twice-daily Agnihotra.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (especially gifts and their fruits), he explains to his listener that supporting worthy, disciplined recipients—particularly those who do not beg—brings great religious merit, equating it with a major Vedic rite.