Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 15
दाता कुप्यति नो दान्तस्तस्माद् दानात् परं दम: । यस्तु दद्यादकुप्यन् हि तस्य लोका: सनातना:
bhīṣma uvāca | dātā kupyati no dāntas tasmād dānāt paraṁ damaḥ | yas tu dadyād akupyan hi tasya lokāḥ sanātanāḥ ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Ang nagbibigay ay maaaring magalit, ngunit ang taong may pagpipigil-sa-sarili ay hindi. Kaya’t ang pagpipigil-sa-sarili ay mas mataas kaysa sa pagbibigay lamang. Gayunman, ang nagbibigay na walang galit ay nakakamit ang mga daigdig na walang hanggan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Charity is valuable, but it can be tainted by anger or pride; true excellence lies in dama—steady self-restraint. The highest form of giving is giving without anger, which leads to enduring spiritual merit.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma, he contrasts external virtue (donation) with inner discipline (self-control), teaching that the moral quality of the giver’s mind—especially freedom from anger—determines the highest fruit of the act.