Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 161
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
अग्निमित्येव तत् प्राहु: प्रदानं च सुखावहम् । यथेष्टगुणसंवृत्तं प्रवर्तकमिति स्मृतम्
agnim ity eva tat prāhuḥ pradānaṃ ca sukhāvaham | yatheṣṭa-guṇa-saṃvṛttaṃ pravartakam iti smṛtam ||
Wika ni Vasiṣṭha: “Ang (handog) na ito ay tunay na tinatawag na ‘Agni’ (Apoy), at ang pag-aalay nito ay nagdudulot ng ligaya. Inaalaala ito bilang yaong, taglay ang mga katangiang ninanais ng nagbibigay, ang nagpapakilos sa pagkakawanggawa—nag-uudyok sa pagnanais na magbigay at lumilikha ng kabutihang-loob, gantimpalang-dharma, at mabuting pangalan ayon sa layon.”
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
Charity (pradāna/dāna) is praised as ‘Agni’—a sacred, energizing force. Giving brings happiness and is said to kindle further generosity, producing merit and good results in accordance with one’s intention and cultivated virtues.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Vasiṣṭha speaks as a teacher, defining the spiritual power of giving. He frames donation as a fire-like principle that activates the impulse to give and yields auspicious outcomes.