Shloka 98
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
न धर्म: प्रीयते तात दानैर्दत्तैमहाफलै:
na dharmaḥ prīyate tāta dānaiḥ dattaiḥ mahāphalaiḥ
“Dear child, Dharma is not truly pleased merely by gifts—even when those gifts are lavish and yield great results.”
श्षशुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that Dharma is not satisfied by the external magnitude or apparent merit of charity alone; ethical worth depends on deeper factors such as right intention, propriety, and alignment with righteous conduct.
An elder (addressing someone affectionately as “tāta”) offers moral counsel, cautioning that even grand, highly rewarding donations do not automatically please Dharma, implying that righteousness requires more than impressive acts of giving.