Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 17
Śāṇḍilī–Sumanā-saṃvāda: Sat-strī-samudācāra and Pati-dharma
Conduct of the Virtuous Wife
यानीमान्युत्तमानीह वेदोक्तानि प्रशंससि । तेषां श्रेष्ठतरं दानमिति मे नात्र संशय:,तुम जिन-जिन वेदोक्त उत्तम कर्मोंकी यहाँ प्रशंसा करते हो, उन सबयमें दान ही श्रेष्ठतर है, इस विषयमें मुझे संशय नहीं है
vyāsa uvāca | yānīmāny uttamānīha vedoktāni praśaṃsasi | teṣāṃ śreṣṭhataraṃ dānam iti me nātra saṃśayaḥ |
毗耶娑说道：“在你此处所称赞的一切由《吠陀》所许可的上等善行之中，我毫不怀疑：布施（dāna）最为殊胜。”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
That among Veda-approved righteous acts, dāna (generous giving) is regarded as the श्रेष्ठतर—most superior—because it directly supports others and embodies compassion and social responsibility within dharma.
Vyāsa addresses a listener who has been praising various Vedicly enjoined ‘excellent’ deeds, and he clarifies the hierarchy: he asserts confidently that charity surpasses the others in excellence.