Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 10
पात्रलक्षण-परिक्षा (Pātra-Lakṣaṇa Parīkṣā) — Criteria for a Worthy Recipient
येन येनैव हविषा ब्राह्म॒णांस्तर्पयेन्नर:
yena yenaiva haviṣā brāhmaṇāṁs tarpayen naraḥ
Bhīṣma nói: “Dù dâng bất cứ lễ vật nào, nếu chính lễ vật ấy làm cho các Brāhmaṇa được thỏa lòng, người ấy hành xử đúng theo dharma.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes that dharmic merit in offerings lies in properly gratifying worthy recipients—especially learned Brāhmaṇas—through whatever legitimate oblation one has, highlighting respectful support of sacred learning and ritual duty.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on righteous conduct; here he states a principle about offerings: whichever oblation is used, the key is that it should duly satisfy the Brāhmaṇas, aligning ritual action with ethical intention.