Shloka 25
जनक-राज्ञः मौण्ड्य-परिव्रज्या-विवादः
Janaka’s Renunciation Questioned; Discourse on Dāna and Detachment
सदैव याचमानेषु तथा दम्भान्वितेषु च । एतेषु दक्षिणा दत्ता दावाग्नाविव दुर्हुतम्
sadaiva yācamāneṣu tathā dambhānvitēṣu ca | eteṣu dakṣiṇā dattā dāvāgnāv iva durhutam ||
जो सदा याचना करते रहते हैं और जो दम्भ से युक्त हैं—ऐसे लोगों को दी हुई दक्षिणा, दावाग्नि में कुपात्र-हवन की भाँति, निष्फल होकर भस्म हो जाती है।
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Charity is not judged only by the act of giving; the worthiness and disposition of the recipient matter. Gifts given to habitual beggars or hypocritical showmen are compared to a mis-offering into a forest fire—wasted and spiritually unproductive.
Arjuna speaks within the Shanti Parva’s ethical discussions, using a vivid simile to question or critique indiscriminate giving. He highlights how donations (dakṣiṇā) can fail to produce dharmic benefit when directed toward recipients marked by constant solicitation or hypocrisy.