Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 26
Adhyāya 60: Dāna vs. Yajña—Royal Giving, Protection, and Karmic Share
क्रतुभिश्नोपवासैश्व त्रिदिवं याति भारत । लभते च शिवं ज्ञानं फलपुष्पप्रदो नर:
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
kratubhiś copavāsaiś ca tridivaṃ yāti bhārata |
labhate ca śivaṃ jñānaṃ phalapuṣpaprado naraḥ ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “O Bhārata, sa pagsasagawa ng mga handog na yajña at sa pag-aayuno, ang tao’y nakararating sa daigdig ng langit. At ang nag-aalay ng mga prutas at bulaklak ay nakakamit ng mapalad at mapagpalang kaalaman—kaalamang humahantong sa tunay na kabutihan at paglaya.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ritual merit (sacrifice and fasting) is praised as leading to heavenly attainment, while simple acts of giving—such as offering fruits and flowers—are elevated as a cause for gaining auspicious, welfare-bringing spiritual knowledge that points toward liberation.
Vaiśampāyana continues instructive discourse addressed to ‘Bhārata,’ summarizing the fruits of dharmic practices: sacrificial rites and fasting yield svarga, and charitable giving (fruits and flowers) yields śiva-jñāna—beneficial insight associated with ultimate good.