Dāna-Śreṣṭhatā: Abhaya, Anugraha, and the Ethics of Honoring the Worthy (दानश्रेष्ठता: अभय-अनुग्रह-विप्रपूजा)
निदर्शनार्थ तपसो धर्मस्य च नराधिप । तत्र या55सीत् स्पूृहा राजंस्तच्चापि विदितं मया
nidarśanārthaṁ tapaso dharmasya ca narādhipa | tatra yāsīt spṛhā rājaṁs tac cāpi viditaṁ mayā || nareśvara |
Wahai tuan bagi sekalian manusia! Aku melakukan semua ini semata-mata untuk memperlihatkan kepadamu kekuatan serta ukuran yang sebenar bagi tapa (tapas) dan dharma. Dan wahai raja, kerinduan yang timbul dalam hatimu tatkala menyaksikan peristiwa-peristiwa itu pun telah pun kuketahui, wahai penguasa manusia.
च्यवन उवाच
Chyavana states that extraordinary actions and displays are meant as a moral demonstration: tapas (disciplined austerity) and dharma (righteous conduct) have real power, and a ruler should learn from such examples. He also implies that a wise seer can discern a king’s inner motives, so ethical intention matters, not merely outward reaction.
Chyavana addresses a king, explaining that what the king has witnessed was intentionally arranged as an instructive example about tapas and dharma. Chyavana further reveals that he already knows the desire that has arisen in the king’s mind after seeing these events.