Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 16
Śāṇḍilī–Sumanā-saṃvāda: Sat-strī-samudācāra and Pati-dharma
Conduct of the Virtuous Wife
शुभं सर्वपवित्रेभ्यो दानमेव परं द्विज । नो चेत् सर्वपवित्रेभ्यो दानमेव परं भवेत्
śubhaṃ sarvapavitrebhyo dānam eva paraṃ dvija | no cet sarvapavitrebhyo dānam eva paraṃ bhavet |
व्यास बोले— “हे द्विज, समस्त पवित्र और कल्याणकारी कर्मों में दान ही परम है। यदि दान सब पवित्र कर्मों में श्रेष्ठ न होता, तो वेद और शास्त्रों में उसकी इतनी प्रशंसा न होती।”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that dāna (charitable giving) is the highest among purifying and auspicious practices; its exceptional praise in Vedic and śāstric tradition is presented as evidence of its supreme ethical and spiritual value.
Vyāsa addresses a ‘dvija’ (a Brahmin interlocutor) and asserts a hierarchy of virtues: among all acts considered pure, giving stands foremost, and the scriptural tradition’s repeated commendation is cited to reinforce this claim.