Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 256
Dāna-Śreṣṭhatā: Abhaya, Anugraha, and the Ethics of Honoring the Worthy (दानश्रेष्ठता: अभय-अनुग्रह-विप्रपूजा)
प्रीत्यर्थ तव चैतन्मे स्वर्गसंदर्शनं कृतम् । फिर जब मैं तुम्हारा धन लुटाने लगा
prītyarthaṁ tava caitanmē svargasaṁdarśanaṁ kṛtam |
Wika ni Cyavana: “Ang pangitain ng langit na ito ay ipinakita ko sa iyo upang ikaw ay mapasaya lamang. Kahit nang simulan kong agawin ang iyong kayamanan, hindi ka rin napailalim sa galit. Sa pagtanaw ko sa lahat ng ito, labis akong nalugod sa iyo. Kaya, O hari, panginoon sa mga tao, ipinakita ko sa iyo—kasama ang iyong asawa—ang langit dito sa gubat, sa iisang layunin: ang bigyang-kasiyahan ka. Alamin mong mabuti na ang hangarin ng lahat ng gawaing ito ay ang pasayahin ka lamang.”
च्यवन उवाच
Educational Q&A
True virtue is shown by self-mastery: even when provoked by loss or insult, one should not be ruled by anger. Such forbearance and steadiness in dharma become the basis for divine favor and higher reward.
Sage Chyavana explains that he deliberately arranged a situation that could provoke the king—such as the taking away of wealth—to test his temperament. Because the king remained unangered, Chyavana was pleased and therefore granted him (with his wife) a vision of heaven in the forest, clarifying that the entire sequence was meant to satisfy and honor him.