Shloka 11
Brāhmaṇa-vandana: Criteria for Veneration, Disciplined Speech, and Protective Kingship (अनुशासनपर्व, अध्याय ८)
शूरा वीराश्न शतश: सन्ति लोके युधिष्छिर । येषां संख्यायमानानां दानशूरो विशिष्यते
śūrā vīrāś ca śataśaḥ santi loke yudhiṣṭhira | yeṣāṃ saṅkhyāyamānānāṃ dānaśūro viśiṣyate ||
Bhīṣma said: “O Yudhiṣṭhira, the world contains heroes and valiant men by the hundreds. Yet, when such men are counted and compared, the one who is heroic in giving—who shows courage through generosity—stands out as the foremost.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True distinction is not merely in martial courage; among many brave and valiant people, the one who is courageous in generosity (dānaśūra) is ethically superior, because giving reflects self-mastery, compassion, and commitment to dharma.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he emphasizes that while the world has countless heroes, the person renowned for heroic giving stands out when virtues are weighed and compared.