Shloka 37
अध्याय २९७ — श्रेयः, धृति, दान-नियमाः
Welfare, Steadfastness, and Norms of Giving
दान॑ त्याग: शोभना मूर्तिरिद्भ्यो भूतप्लाव्यं तपसा वै शरीरम् । सरस्वतीनैमिषपुष्करेषु ये चाप्यन्ये पुण्यदेशा: पृथिव्याम्
dānaṁ tyāgaḥ śobhanā mūrtir idbhyo bhūtaplāvyaṁ tapasā vai śarīram | sarasvatī-naimiṣa-puṣkareṣu ye cāpy anye puṇyadeśāḥ pṛthivyām, rājan ||
पाराशर उवाच—दानं त्यागश्च शोभना मूर्तिर्धर्मस्य; तपसा तीर्थतोयैश्च शरीरं शुद्ध्यति वर्धते च। तस्माद् राजन्! सरस्वत्यां नैमिषे पुष्करेषु च ये चान्ये पुण्यदेशाः पृथिव्याम्, तेषु गत्वा दानं दद्यात्, भोगान् परित्यजेत्, शान्तभावेन वसेत्, तपसा तीर्थजलैश्च तनुमनसी पावयेत्॥
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that dharmic life is strengthened through dāna (charity) and tyāga (renunciation). Inner and outer purification is achieved by tapas (disciplined austerity) and by contact with sacred waters and holy places, cultivating calmness and restraint rather than indulgence.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, the sage Parāśara addresses a king and recommends practical religious-ethical disciplines: visiting renowned tīrthas such as Sarasvatī, Naimiṣāraṇya, and Puṣkara, giving gifts there, renouncing pleasures, maintaining a peaceful disposition, and purifying oneself through austerity and pilgrimage rites.