Valmiki Ramayana 1.13.30: Bala Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 30
हयमेध
यज्ञोपक्रमः · Commencement of the Aśvamedha Preparations
Spoken by VasisthaSetting: अयोध्या (yajña precincts, implied)
ततःप्रीतो द्विजश्रेष्ठस्तान् सर्वानिदमब्रवीत् ।
अवज्ञया न दातव्यं कस्यचिल्लीलयाऽपि वा ॥३०॥
अवज्ञया कृतं हन्याद्दातारं नात्र संशयः ।
tataḥ prīto dvijaśreṣṭhas tān sarvān idam abravīt |
avajñayā na dātavyaṃ kasyacit līlayāpi vā ||30||
avajñayā kṛtaṃ hanyād dātāraṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ |
वशिष्ठजी खुश हो गए। उन्होंने सबको समझाया। किसी को भी नफरत से कुछ मत दो। मज़ाक-मज़ाक में भी मत दो। बुरा मनके जो कुछ दिया, वो देने वाले को ही नुकसान करता है। इसमें कोई शक नहीं।
Sandhi Notes
- ततोऽप्रीतः इति न
- here tataḥ prītaḥ. तान् सर्वानिदम् = तान् + सर्वान् + इदम्
- कस्यचिल्लीलयाऽपि = कस्यचित् + लीलया + अपि
- हन्याद्दातारम् = हन्यात् + दातारम् (व्यञ्जन-सन्धि)
Then, well pleased, the best among brahmins (Vasishta) said to them all "Nobody should be offered any thing with disregard. Anything given with contempt undoubtedly results in the destruction of the donor."
The teaching
Dāna is purified by respect; contempt in giving rebounds as harm to the giver.
Duties in tension
- Dāna as social/ritual obligation vs. inner attitude of respect/śraddhā
- Speed/efficiency in distribution vs. careful honor to recipients
- Ethical theme
- Dāna-dharma / intention ethics
- How it resolves
- Principle-based injunction (vidhi-niṣedha): give only with reverence; avoid contempt even in play
For your practice
Daily practice of giving (time, attention, charity) with hri/śraddhā; transforms ordinary generosity into sāttvika dāna.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)
- Mood
- Didactic, grave, purifying
Themes
- Dharma
- Ethics
- Dāna (right giving)
- Maryādā
- Itihāsa
- Satya (integrity of intention)
Ethical quality of action lies in inner attitude (bhāva); contempt contaminates karma and binds the doer.
Taittirīya Upaniṣad’s ethic of giving with reverence (śraddhayā deyam, aśraddhayā adeyam; śriyā deyam, hriyā deyam, bhiyā deyam, saṃvidā deyam) strongly resonates with this instruction.
Taittirīya Upaniṣad 1.11 (Śikṣāvallī): śraddhayā deyam...; Mahābhārata Anuśāsanaparva: extensive dāna-dharma teachings (general parallel); Manusmṛti: dāna with proper respect and recipient-worthiness (general parallel)
Vedic injunctions on dāna and śraddhā; śrauta context where dakṣiṇā must be given properly
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 1.14: distribution of dakṣiṇā and completion of yajña (episode-continuity)
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Solemn/commanding
Gāndhāra
FAQs
Dāna (giving) must be performed with respect and right intention. A gift offered with contempt violates dharma and rebounds negatively upon the giver.
During preparations for Daśaratha’s yajña, Vasiṣṭha instructs the assembly on proper conduct—especially the etiquette and moral quality of giving.
Maryādā and śiṣṭācāra (noble propriety): Vasiṣṭha upholds disciplined, respectful behavior as essential to righteous action.
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