Shloka 15
Prāyaścitta and Contextual Non-Culpability (प्रायश्चित्त-निमित्त-अदोषवाद)
मनोरथं तु यो दद्यादेकस्मा अपि भारत | न कीर्तयेत दत्त्वा य: स च पापात् प्रमुच्यते
manorathaṃ tu yo dadyād ekasmai api bhārata | na kīrtayet dattvā yaḥ sa ca pāpāt pramucyate ||
Vyāsa dit : Ô Bhārata, même celui qui accorde à une seule personne le don qui accomplit son vœu le plus cher, et qui, après avoir donné, n’en fait pas étalage, est lui aussi délivré du péché.
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.