Shloka 3
Vasiṣṭha on Saṃsāra, Guṇas, and Misattributed Agency
Mahābhārata 12.292
अपना सगा भाई भी यदि अपने श्रेष्ठ स्वभावका और स्नेहका त्याग कर दे तो लोग उसको त्याग देते हैं; फिर दूसरे किसी साधारण मनुष्यकी तो बात ही क्या है ।।
viśiṣṭasya viśiṣṭāc ca tulyau dāna-pratigrahau | tayoḥ puṇyataraṃ dānaṃ tad dvijasya prayacchataḥ ||
Parāśara teaches that when both the giver and the recipient are persons of excellence, giving and accepting are ethically comparable acts. Yet, among the two, the act of giving bears the greater merit—especially when the gift is offered to a worthy brāhmaṇa.
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
When both parties are worthy, giving and receiving are both legitimate, but giving is considered more meritorious—especially when directed to a deserving brāhmaṇa—highlighting generosity as a key expression of dharma.
In the Śānti Parva’s didactic setting, Parāśara is instructing on righteous conduct, specifically the ethics of gifting and receiving, and how merit is assessed based on worthiness and intention.