Shloka 19
Adhyāya 287 — Janaka’s Inquiry on Śreyas, Abhayadāna, and Asaṅga
Non-attachment
दैवतेभ्य: पितृभ्यश्न संविभागो$तिथिष्वपि । असंत्यागश्च भृत्यानां श्रेय एतदसंशयम्,देवताओं, पितरों और अतिथियोंको उनका भाग देना तथा भरण-पोषण करनेयोग्य व्यक्तियोंका त्याग न करना--यह कल्याणका निश्चित साधन है
daivatebhyaḥ pitṛbhyaś ca saṁvibhāgo ’tithiṣv api | asaṁtyāgaś ca bhṛtyānāṁ śreya etad asaṁśayam ||
नारद उवाच—दैवतेभ्यः पितृभ्यश्च संविभागोऽतिथिष्वपि, भृत्यानामसंत्यागः—श्रेय एतदसंशयम्॥
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
One’s welfare (śreyaḥ) is secured by reliably fulfilling three obligations: offering due portions to the gods (ritual duty), honoring the ancestors (continuity and gratitude), and welcoming guests (social dharma), along with a fourth emphasis—never neglecting or abandoning dependents who rely on one’s support.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Nārada speaks as a moral teacher, summarizing practical household ethics: proper distribution of resources to sacred obligations and to people in one’s care is presented as a certain means to auspiciousness.