Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 50
तीर्थवंशोपदेशः
Tīrtha-vaṃśa Upadeśa: Instruction on the Fruits of Sacred Waters
चारित्रनिरता राजन् ये कृशा: कृशवृत्तय: । अर्थिनश्लोपगच्छन्ति तेषु दत्त महाफलम्
cāritraniratā rājan ye kṛśāḥ kṛśavṛttayaḥ | arthinaś copagacchanti teṣu dattaṃ mahāphalam, rājan ||
Sinabi ni Bhīṣma: “O Hari, kapag ang mga taong tapat sa mabuting asal—na ang kabuhayan ay nalanta at dahil sa kakulangan ng pagkain ay lubhang nangayayat—ay lumalapit bilang mga namamalimos, ang handog na ibinigay sa kanila ay nagbubunga ng dakilang gantimpalang espirituwal, O Hari.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Charity bears the greatest merit when directed to truly needy persons who nonetheless remain committed to ethical conduct; giving to such destitute, hungry supplicants is especially fruitful.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma advises King Yudhishthira about the hierarchy of worthy recipients of gifts, emphasizing the exceptional value of helping virtuous people who have fallen into severe poverty and hunger.