Shloka 20
अनुशासनपर्व अध्याय ९३ — तपस्, सदोपवास, विघसाशन, अतिथिप्रियता
Austerity, regulated fasting, residual-eating, and hospitality
असूयता च यद् दत्तं यच्च श्रद्धाविवर्जितम् | सर्व तदसुरेन्द्राय ब्रह्मा भागमकल्पयत्,जो दोषदृष्टि रखते हुए दान करता है और जो बिना श्राद्धके देता है, उस सारे दानको ब्रह्माजीने असुरराज बलिका भाग निश्चित किया है
asūyatā ca yad dattaṁ yac ca śraddhā-vivarjitam | sarvaṁ tad asurendrāya brahmā bhāgam akalpayat ||
Bhīṣma said: Whatever gift is given with fault-finding envy, and whatever is given devoid of faith, all of that Brahmā has assigned as the share of the lord of the Asuras. The teaching is that charity is ethically shaped not only by the act of giving, but by the giver’s inner disposition—faith and goodwill elevate a gift, while envy and lack of reverence divert its merit toward adverse ends.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A gift is judged by intention: giving with envy or a fault-finding mindset, or giving without śraddhā (sincere faith and reverence), loses its auspicious merit; its fruit is said to go to the asuric share (here symbolized by Bali).
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma (especially dāna-dharma), he explains to his listener that certain defective forms of charity—tainted by asūyā or lacking śraddhā—do not yield the intended spiritual benefit; tradition frames this by saying Brahmā has allotted such fruit to the Asura-king Bali.