Mahabharata — Svargarohana Parva, Shloka 81
ततो गन्धैश्न माल्यैश्न स्वलंकृत्य द्विजोत्तमान् | तर्पयेद् विविधै: कामैदनिश्वलोच्चावचैस्तथा
tato gandhaiś ca mālyaiś ca sv-alaṅkṛtya dvijottamān | tarpayet vividhaiḥ kāmair aniśvaloccāvachais tathā ||
तदनंतर श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणों को गंध और मालाओं से अलंकृत करके, नाना प्रकार की मनोवांछित वस्तुओं से—और छोटे-बड़े आवश्यक पदार्थों के दान से—उन्हें तृप्त करे।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches dharmic hospitality: honor the worthy (especially Brahmins) with respectful adornment and satisfy them through generous, appropriate gifts—covering both modest needs and larger necessities—so that giving is thoughtful, not merely symbolic.
Vaiśampāyana describes a prescribed mode of honoring Brahmins: first adorning them with perfumes and garlands, then pleasing them by providing a range of desired items and practical necessities of different kinds and sizes.