Shloka 23
Adhyāya 60: Dāna vs. Yajña—Royal Giving, Protection, and Karmic Share
गन्धमाल्यप्रदानेन कीर्तिर्भवति पुष्कला । केशश्मश्रु धारयतामग्रया भवति संतति:
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
gandhamālyapradānena kīrtir bhavati puṣkalā |
keśaśmaśru dhārayatām agrayā bhavati santatiḥ ||
வைசம்பாயனர் கூறினார்—நறுமணப் பொருட்களையும் மலர்மாலைகளையும் தானமாக அளித்தால் பெரும் புகழ் உண்டாகும். மேலும் கேசமும் தாடி-மீசையும் ஒழுங்குடன் வைத்திருப்போருக்கு சிறந்த சந்ததி பிறக்கும்.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links specific acts of dharmic giving and disciplined personal conduct with corresponding fruits: donating perfumes and garlands yields widespread good reputation, and maintaining prescribed bodily marks (hair and beard) is associated with the blessing of excellent offspring—emphasizing that outward acts and self-regulation, when aligned with dharma, bear social and familial merit.
Within the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma and gifts, Vaiśampāyana continues enumerating the results (phala) of particular donations and observances, presenting a concise merit-statement that connects offerings used in worship and hospitality with fame, and disciplined appearance with prosperity of lineage.