Shloka 9
धन-यज्ञ-दानविवेकः
Wealth, Sacrifice, and Disciplined Giving
अनरहहते यद् ददाति न ददाति यदर्हते । अह्निहपिरिज्ञानाद दानधर्मो5पि दुष्कर:,“बहुधा मनुष्य अनधिकारीको धन दे देता है और योग्य अधिकारीको नहीं देता। योग्य- अयोग्य पात्रकी पहचान न होनेसे (भ्रूणहत्याके समान दोष लगता है, अतः) दानधर्म भी दुष्कर ही है
anarhate yad dadāti na dadāti yadarhate | ajñānāt pātriparijñānād dānadharmo 'pi duṣkaraḥ ||
Dijo Devastāna: «A menudo el hombre da a quien no es digno y no da a quien sí lo es. Por ignorancia al reconocer al destinatario adecuado, incluso el deber de la caridad se vuelve difícil, pues dar mal puede acarrear falta moral en vez de mérito».
देवस्थान उवाच
Educational Q&A
Charity is not merely the act of giving; it requires discernment about the recipient. Giving to the unworthy and neglecting the worthy can undermine the moral purpose of dāna, so right judgment (pātra-parīkṣā) is essential for ethical giving.
In the Shānti Parva’s ethical instruction, Devastāna reflects on practical difficulties in living dharma. Here he highlights a common human error—misidentifying who deserves support—showing why even a praised virtue like charity can become morally complex.