Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 22
Adhyāya 142: Cyavana, the Devas’ Arrogance, and Vāyu’s Counsel on Protecting Brāhmaṇas
भ्क्ष्यभोज्यस्य च कृतान् राशय: पर्वतोपमान् | शाण्डिल्याय पुरा दत्त्वा सुमन्युर्दिवमास्थित:
bhakṣyabhojyasya ca kṛtān rāśayaḥ parvatopamān | śāṇḍilyāya purā dattvā sumanyur divam āsthitaḥ ||
ਭੀਸ਼ਮ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਰਾਜਰਿਸ਼ੀ ਸੁਮਨ੍ਯੂ ਨੇ ਪੁਰਾਤਨ ਸਮੇਂ ਸ਼ਾਂਡਿਲ੍ਯ ਨੂੰ ਭੱਖਣਯੋਗ ਤੇ ਭੋਜਨਯੋਗ ਤਿਆਰ ਖਾਣਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਪਹਾੜ ਵਰਗੇ ਢੇਰ ਦਾਨ ਕੀਤੇ; ਫਿਰ ਉਹ ਸਵਰਗ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਹੋਇਆ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Generous giving—especially the offering of prepared food in abundance to a worthy recipient—creates great religious merit (puṇya) and is presented as a direct cause for attaining heavenly reward.
Bhīṣma cites an illustrative precedent: Sumanyu once donated enormous quantities of prepared foods to the sage Śāṇḍilya, and as a result of that meritorious act he later attained heaven.