Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 25
Śāṇḍilī–Sumanā-saṃvāda: Sat-strī-samudācāra and Pati-dharma
Conduct of the Virtuous Wife
यज्ञदानतप:शीला नरा वै पुण्यकर्मिण: । येअभिद्रह्मन्ति भूतानि ते वै पापकृतो जना:
vyāsa uvāca | yajñadānatapaḥśīlā narā vai puṇyakarmiṇaḥ | ye 'bhidruhṇanti bhūtāni te vai pāpakṛto janāḥ ||
毗耶娑说：勤于祭祀（yajña）、布施与苦行者，实为修功德之人；而对众生怀恶意、加以伤害者，当知为造罪之徒。此颂以法（dharma）为尺度：内在的自律与慷慨使人升华，敌视生灵则是道德沉沦的标记。
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Merit is defined by sustained commitment to yajña (sacred duty), dāna (generosity), and tapas (self-discipline), while sin is defined by hostility and harm toward living beings. Dharma is measured not only by ritual and ascetic practice but also by one’s attitude and conduct toward all creatures.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-focused setting, Vyāsa delivers a concise moral criterion: he distinguishes the truly virtuous from the sinful by contrasting religious-ethical practices (sacrifice, charity, austerity) with cruelty or malice toward beings.