Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 14
Śāṇḍilī–Sumanā-saṃvāda: Sat-strī-samudācāra and Pati-dharma
Conduct of the Virtuous Wife
ततो दानपवित्रेण प्रीतो5स्मि तपसैव च । पुण्यस्यैव हि ते सत्त्वं पुण्यस्यैव च दर्शनम्
tato dānapavitreṇa prīto ’smi tapasāiva ca | puṇyasyaiva hi te sattvaṃ puṇyasyaiva ca darśanam ||
“因此，我对你深感欢喜——既因你的苦行，也因那苦行因布施而得以清净成圣。诚然，你的力量不过是功德所生之力；你的见地亦是以功德为根的见地。”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Austerity (tapas) becomes truly fruitful when purified and completed by generosity (dāna). Moral power and spiritual clarity are portrayed as arising from puṇya—merit earned through righteous conduct—rather than from mere self-denial.
Vyāsa addresses the listener with approval, praising their disciplined practice and emphasizing that their inner strength and spiritual vision are rooted in merit, especially because their austerity is sanctified through acts of giving.