Shloka 39
Āśrama-dharma: Duties of the Four Life-Stages (आश्रमधर्मः)
शूद्र: पैजवनो नाम सहस्राणां शतं ददौ | ऐन्द्राग्नेन विधानेन दक्षिणामिति न: श्रुतम्
śūdraḥ paijavano nāma sahasrāṇāṃ śataṃ dadau | aindrāgnena vidhānena dakṣiṇām iti naḥ śrutam ||
Bhīṣma dit : « Nous avons entendu qu’un Śūdra nommé Paijavana donna cent mille en rétributions sacrificielles, accordées selon le rite lié à Indra et à Agni. » Cette parole souligne que la valeur morale se mesure à la générosité et à l’observance du devoir prescrit dans le sacrifice, non à la seule condition sociale.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that dharmic merit is strongly tied to dāna (generous giving) performed in accordance with proper ritual norms; exemplary virtue can be found irrespective of social category.
Bhīṣma cites a traditional report about a Śūdra named Paijavana who, following an Indra–Agni-related sacrificial procedure, gave an immense dakṣiṇā (sacrificial gift/fee), using the example to support a broader discussion of dharma and the power of generosity.