Shloka 3
अन्तर्वेद्यां च यद् दत्तं श्रद्धया चानृशंस्यत: । किंस्विन्नै:श्रेयसं तात तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह,तात पितामह! जो दान वेदीके भीतर श्रद्धापूर्वक दिया जाता है और जो वेदीके बाहर दयाभावसे प्रेरित होकर दिया जाता है; इन दोनोंमें कौन विशेष कल्याणकारी होता है?
antarvedyāṁ ca yad dattaṁ śraddhayā cānṛśaṁsyaḥ | kiṁsvid naiḥśreyasaṁ tāta tan me brūhi pitāmaha ||
Wika ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “O mahal kong lolo, sabihin mo sa akin: sa dalawang ito, alin ang nagdudulot ng higit na mataas na kabutihan—ang kaloob na ibinibigay sa loob ng sagradong pook ng altar nang may pananampalataya, o ang kaloob na ibinibigay sa labas nito na inuudyukan ng habag at di-pagmalupit?”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical inquiry about dāna: whether ritual-context giving (within the consecrated vedi, done with śraddhā) or compassion-driven giving (outside the ritual space, motivated by anṛśaṁsya) is more conducive to naiḥśreyasa, the highest welfare. It invites a hierarchy of values—external ritual propriety versus inner moral intention.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Yudhiṣṭhira questions the grandsire Bhīṣma, seeking guidance on the relative merit of two kinds of charitable giving: offerings made within a sacrificial/altar setting with faith, and gifts given beyond that setting out of compassion.