Shloka 3
Vasiṣṭha on Saṃsāra, Guṇas, and Misattributed Agency
Mahābhārata 12.292
अपना सगा भाई भी यदि अपने श्रेष्ठ स्वभावका और स्नेहका त्याग कर दे तो लोग उसको त्याग देते हैं; फिर दूसरे किसी साधारण मनुष्यकी तो बात ही क्या है ।। विशिष्टस्य विशिष्टाच्च तुल्यौ दानप्रतिग्रहौ । तयो: पुण्यतरं दान॑ तद् द्विजस्य प्रयच्छत:
viśiṣṭasya viśiṣṭāc ca tulyau dāna-pratigrahau | tayoḥ puṇyataraṃ dānaṃ tad dvijasya prayacchataḥ ||
Parāśara mengajarkan bahawa apabila pemberi dan penerima sama-sama insan mulia, memberi dan menerima adalah sebanding dari segi etika. Namun antara keduanya, memberi lebih besar pahalanya—terutama apabila dianugerahkan kepada seorang brāhmaṇa yang layak.
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
When both parties are worthy, giving and receiving are both legitimate, but giving is considered more meritorious—especially when directed to a deserving brāhmaṇa—highlighting generosity as a key expression of dharma.
In the Śānti Parva’s didactic setting, Parāśara is instructing on righteous conduct, specifically the ethics of gifting and receiving, and how merit is assessed based on worthiness and intention.