Shloka 15
Prāyaścitta and Contextual Non-Culpability (प्रायश्चित्त-निमित्त-अदोषवाद)
मनोरथं तु यो दद्यादेकस्मा अपि भारत | न कीर्तयेत दत्त्वा य: स च पापात् प्रमुच्यते,भरतनन्दन! जो एक ब्राह्मणको भी उसकी मनोवांछित वस्तु दे देता है और देकर फिर उसकी कहीं चर्चा नहीं करता, वह भी पापसे मुक्त हो जाता है
manorathaṃ tu yo dadyād ekasmai api bhārata | na kīrtayet dattvā yaḥ sa ca pāpāt pramucyate ||
Vyāsa says: O Bhārata, even a person who grants to just one individual the gift that fulfills his heartfelt wish—and, after giving, does not publicize it—becomes freed from sin.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Giving that fulfills another’s genuine need or wish is spiritually effective when it is done without self-praise or public display; such restrained charity helps cleanse the giver of sin.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Vyāsa addresses ‘Bhārata’ and teaches a principle of dāna: even a single, sincere gift—kept free from boasting—has strong purificatory value.