Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 12
Śāṇḍilī–Sumanā-saṃvāda: Sat-strī-samudācāra and Pati-dharma
Conduct of the Virtuous Wife
अल्पो5पि तादृशो दायो भवत्युत महाफल: । तृषिताय च ते दत्त हृदयेनानसूयता
alpo 'pi tādṛśo dāyo bhavaty uta mahāphalaḥ | tṛṣitāya ca te dattaṃ hṛdayenān asūyatā ||
व्यास बोले—“ऐसे विधिपूर्वक दिया हुआ थोड़ा-सा दान भी महान् फल देने वाला होता है। तुमने ईर्ष्या-रहित हृदय से प्यासे अतिथि को अन्न-जल दिया है; इसलिए वह अल्प दान भी अपार पुण्य का कारण बनता है।”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The fruit of charity depends primarily on the giver’s intention and purity of heart. Even a small offering becomes highly meritorious when given according to dharma—especially to one in need—without envy, resentment, or ulterior motive.
Vyāsa addresses a listener and affirms that the listener’s act of giving food and water to a thirsty guest, done sincerely and without jealousy, is a dharmic deed whose reward is great despite the smallness of the material gift.