Śāṇḍilī–Sumanā-saṃvāda: Sat-strī-samudācāra and Pati-dharma
Conduct of the Virtuous Wife
दानकृद्धि: कृत: पन्था येन यान्ति मनीषिण: । ते हि प्राणस्य दातारस्तेषु धर्म: प्रतिष्ठित:
dānakṛddhiḥ kṛtaḥ panthā yena yānti manīṣiṇaḥ | te hi prāṇasya dātāras teṣu dharmaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ ||
سخاوت کرنے والوں نے جو راہ قائم کی ہے، اسی راہ پر دانا لوگ چلتے ہیں۔ کیونکہ دینے والے گویا جان کے بھی بخشنے والے سمجھے جاتے ہیں، اور انہی میں دھرم مضبوطی سے قائم ہے۔
व्यास उवाच
The verse teaches that dāna (generous giving) establishes a reliable moral path for society; the wise follow this model, and dharma is said to rest upon those who sustain others through giving—so much so that they are called ‘givers of life’.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-focused discourse, Vyāsa emphasizes the ethical primacy of charity: he frames donors as foundational to dharma and presents their conduct as the exemplary route that thoughtful people adopt.