Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 15
Śāṇḍilī–Sumanā-saṃvāda: Sat-strī-samudācāra and Pati-dharma
Conduct of the Virtuous Wife
पुण्यस्यैवाभिगन्धस्ते मनन््ये कर्मविधानजम् । अधिकं मार्जनात् तात तथा चैवानुलेपनात्
puṇyasyaivābhigandhas te manye karmavidhānajam | adhikaṃ mārjanāt tāta tathā caivānulepanāt ||
毗耶娑说道：“你身上不断散发的功德之芳香，我以为源自你以戒律之心奉行正业——尤其是布施之善业。孩子啊，行施胜过沐浴洁身与涂香抹油；它大于外在的净化，因为那是内在的灌顶与奉献，能散播德行的芬芳。”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
True purity is not merely external (cleansing and anointing) but arises from righteous conduct—especially charity—whose merit becomes visible as a ‘fragrance’ of virtue.
Vyāsa addresses a listener affectionately and interprets the person’s constant ‘scent of merit’ as the result of properly performed virtuous acts, highlighting dāna (giving) as superior to outward acts of purification.