Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 16
गोप्रदान-माहात्म्ये गोलोक-प्रश्नः
Gopradāna-Māhātmya: Inquiry into Goloka
यम उवाच शृणु तत्त्वेन विप्ररषे प्रदानविधिमुत्तमम् । तिला: परमकं दान पुण्यं चैवेह शाश्वतम्
yama uvāca śṛṇu tattvena viprarṣe pradānavidhim uttamam | tilāḥ paramakaṃ dānaṃ puṇyaṃ caiveha śāśvatam ||
यम ने कहा—हे ब्रह्मर्षि! यथार्थ रूप से दान की उत्तम विधि सुनो। तिल का दान सब दानों में श्रेष्ठ है; यह यहाँ शाश्वत, अक्षय पुण्य देने वाला माना गया है।
यम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Yama teaches that correct, truth-aligned giving (pradāna-vidhi) is a key aspect of dharma, and he highlights sesame-seed donation as especially potent, producing enduring merit.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Yama addresses a brahmarṣi and begins instructing him on the best procedure of charitable giving, introducing sesame-seed donation as preeminent and spiritually fruitful.