Valmiki Ramayana 2.108.16: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 108, Shloka 16
जाबाल्युपदेशः · Jabali’s Pragmatic Counsel to Rama
दानसंवनना ह्येते ग्रन्था मेधाविभिः कृताः ।
यजस्व देहि दीक्षस्व तपस्तप्यस्व सन्त्यज ॥१६॥
dānasaṁvananā hy ete granthā medhāvibhiḥ kṛtāḥ |
yajasva dehi dīkṣasva tapas tapyasva santyaja ||16||
यह सब ग्रंथ तो समझदार लोगों ने लिखे थे लोगों को देने के लिए। यज्ञ करो, दान दो, दीक्षा लो, तपस करो, सब छोड़ के संन्यास ले लो, ऐसे ऐसे लिखा है।
It was to induce people to give charity that treatises are composed by intelligent men exhorting, 'perform sacrifices', 'give charity', 'be initiated', 'practise religious austerities', 'renounce', etc.
FAQs
It distinguishes true dharma from mere persuasion: ethical acts like dāna and tapas should be chosen from understanding and truth, not only because texts socially ‘induce’ them.
Bharata argues that scriptural injunctions can function as motivational tools, continuing his attempt to reframe what should count as a reliable guide for action.
Intellectual independence—valuing meaning and truth over conformity.
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