Shloka 12
Śāṇḍilī–Sumanā-saṃvāda: Sat-strī-samudācāra and Pati-dharma
Conduct of the Virtuous Wife
अल्पो5पि तादृशो दायो भवत्युत महाफल: । तृषिताय च ते दत्त हृदयेनानसूयता
alpo 'pi tādṛśo dāyo bhavaty uta mahāphalaḥ | tṛṣitāya ca te dattaṃ hṛdayenān asūyatā ||
ヴィヤーサは言った。「たとえ小さな施しであっても、このように与えられるなら、大いなる果を結ぶ。そなたは嫉みなき心をもって、渇いた客に食と水を施した。ゆえに、そのささやかな布施は計り知れぬ功徳となる。教えはこうだ——内なる心のあり方、すなわち嫉妬なき善意と、ダルマへの敬いが、与えた物の量を超えて、施しの霊的な果報を増大させる。」
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The fruit of charity depends primarily on the giver’s intention and purity of heart. Even a small offering becomes highly meritorious when given according to dharma—especially to one in need—without envy, resentment, or ulterior motive.
Vyāsa addresses a listener and affirms that the listener’s act of giving food and water to a thirsty guest, done sincerely and without jealousy, is a dharmic deed whose reward is great despite the smallness of the material gift.