Shloka 133
Adhyāya 64: Dāna-prakāra—Suvarṇa, Pānīya-dāna, Ghṛta-dāna, and Upakaraṇa-dāna
Utility Gifts
एते देया व्युष्टिमन्तो लघूपायाश्न भारत । भारत! जो ब्राह्मण यज्ञ करते हों
ete deyā vyuṣṭimanto laghūpāyāśna bhārata | bhārata yo brāhmaṇā yajñaṃ kurvanti tebhyo ghṛtam annaṃ hayayuktān rathādikāḥ savāryāḥ gṛhāḥ śayyādayaś ca vastūni dātavyāni | bharatanandana rājñe ete dānāni sulabhāni samṛddhiṃ vardhayanti |
भीष्म उवाच—एते देया व्युष्टिमन्तो लघूपायाश्च भारत। यज्ञकर्मणि प्रवृत्तेभ्यो ब्राह्मणेभ्यः सर्पिर्धान्यं दातव्यं, अश्वयुक्तरथादियानानि, गृहाणि शय्याश्च तथा चान्योपकरणानि। भरतश्रेष्ठ, राज्ञ एते दानानि सुलभानि समृद्धिवर्धनानि च।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that a king should support sacrificial and religious activity through practical, life-sustaining gifts—food, ghee, transport, housing, and bedding—because such dāna is both feasible and increases prosperity (samṛddhi) while upholding dharma.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira about appropriate forms of charity, specifying what should be given to Brahmins engaged in yajña and emphasizing the king’s role in sustaining social and ritual order.