Śāṇḍilī–Sumanā-saṃvāda: Sat-strī-samudācāra and Pati-dharma
Conduct of the Virtuous Wife
तृषितस्तृषिताय त्वं दत्त्वैतद् दर्शन॑ं मम । अजैषीर्महतो लोकान् महायज्ञैरिव प्रभो
tṛṣitas tṛṣitāya tvaṃ dattvaitad darśanaṃ mama | ajaiṣīr mahato lokān mahāyajñair iva prabho ||
Vyāsa berkata: “Ketika aku dilanda lapar dan dahaga, engkau memuaskanku dengan memberi makanan dan air; aku menyaksikannya dengan mataku sendiri. Oleh daya pahala kebajikan itu, wahai tuan, engkau telah meraih alam-alam surgawi yang agung—alam yang biasanya dicapai melalui yajña-yajña besar.”
व्यास उवाच
Simple, timely charity—especially feeding and giving water to one in need—can yield spiritual merit comparable to (or surpassing) the results of grand sacrificial rites; compassion expressed through direct service is a powerful form of dharma.
Vyāsa addresses a revered person as “prabhu,” recalling that when Vyāsa was afflicted by hunger and thirst, the person gave him food and water. Vyāsa then declares that he can directly perceive the karmic fruit of that act: the recipient has attained victory over great heavenly realms, as though by performing major sacrifices.