Shloka 12
Virūpākṣa’s Dāna and Gautama’s Burden — the approach of Rājadharma
ब्राह्मणेभ्य: प्रदायाग्रं यः सुहृद्धिः सहा श्रुते । स प्रेत्य लभते स्वर्गमिह चानन्त्यमश्लुते
brāhmaṇebhyaḥ pradāyāgraṃ yaḥ suhṛdbhiḥ sahāśnute | sa pretya labhate svargam iha cānantyam aśnute ||
Ia yang terlebih dahulu mempersembahkan bagian terbaik kepada para Brāhmaṇa, lalu sesudah itu makan bersama para sahabat baiknya, menikmati kebahagiaan tanpa akhir di dunia ini dan setelah wafat mencapai surga.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Prioritize respectful giving—especially offering the best portion first to worthy recipients (here, Brāhmaṇas)—and then partake with one’s companions. Such disciplined generosity yields well-being in this life and heavenly reward after death.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira a rule of conduct for householders: before eating, one should first make an offering to Brāhmaṇas; this practice is praised as producing both worldly happiness and posthumous attainment of Svarga.