Shloka 9
धन-यज्ञ-दानविवेकः
Wealth, Sacrifice, and Disciplined Giving
अनरहहते यद् ददाति न ददाति यदर्हते । अह्निहपिरिज्ञानाद दानधर्मो5पि दुष्कर:
anarhate yad dadāti na dadāti yadarhate | ajñānāt pātriparijñānād dānadharmo 'pi duṣkaraḥ ||
ମନୁଷ୍ୟ ବହୁବେଳେ ଅନର୍ହକୁ ଦେଇଦିଏ ଏବଂ ଅର୍ହକୁ ଦେଉନାହିଁ। ପାତ୍ର-ଅପାତ୍ର ପରିଚୟ ନ ଥିବା ଅଜ୍ଞାନରୁ ଦାନଧର୍ମ ମଧ୍ୟ ଦୁଷ୍କର ହୋଇଯାଏ; କାରଣ ଭୁଲ ଦାନ ପୁଣ୍ୟ ନୁହେଁ, ଦୋଷର କାରଣ ହୁଏ।
देवस्थान उवाच
Educational Q&A
Charity is not merely the act of giving; it requires discernment about the recipient. Giving to the unworthy and neglecting the worthy can undermine the moral purpose of dāna, so right judgment (pātra-parīkṣā) is essential for ethical giving.
In the Shānti Parva’s ethical instruction, Devastāna reflects on practical difficulties in living dharma. Here he highlights a common human error—misidentifying who deserves support—showing why even a praised virtue like charity can become morally complex.