Shloka 28
कपिल–स्यूमरश्मि संवादः
Kapila and Syūmaraśmi on Renunciation, Householder Support, and Epistemic Authority
तपोभिर्यज्ञदानैश्व वाक्यै: प्रज्ञाश्रितिस्तथा । प्राप्रोत्यभयदानस्य यद् यत् फलमिहाश्लुते,तप, यज्ञ, दान और ज्ञान-सम्बन्धी उपदेशके द्वारा मनुष्य यहाँ जो-जो फल प्राप्त करता है, वह सब उसे केवल अभय दानसे मिल जाता है
tapobhir yajñadānaiś ca vākyaiḥ prajñāśrītis tathā | prāpnoty abhayadānasya yad yat phalam ihāśnute ||
Dijo Tūladhāra: Cualesquiera frutos que el hombre obtenga en este mundo mediante austeridades, sacrificios, dádivas y palabras de instrucción asentadas en la sabiduría, esos mismos frutos se alcanzan simplemente con el don de la intrepidez (abhaya-dāna).
तुलाधार उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that abhayadāna—actively giving others safety and freedom from fear—can yield the same spiritual and ethical merit as austerity, sacrifice, charity, and wisdom-based instruction. It elevates protection and non-harm as a supreme form of dharma.
In the Śānti Parva’s discourse on dharma, Tulādhāra speaks as a moral teacher, comparing different sources of religious merit. He asserts that the benefits people seek through tapas, yajña, dāna, and wise counsel are all encompassed by the single practice of granting fearlessness—i.e., ensuring others are not threatened, harmed, or made anxious.