Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 161
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
अग्निमित्येव तत् प्राहु: प्रदानं च सुखावहम् । यथेष्टगुणसंवृत्तं प्रवर्तकमिति स्मृतम्
agnim ity eva tat prāhuḥ pradānaṃ ca sukhāvaham | yatheṣṭa-guṇa-saṃvṛttaṃ pravartakam iti smṛtam ||
婆悉吒说道：“此种布施确实名为‘阿耆尼’（火），其供献能带来安乐。经传记载：它具足施者所愿的一切德相，能发动布施之行——激起施舍之心，并依其本意成就福德与美名。”
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
Charity (pradāna/dāna) is praised as ‘Agni’—a sacred, energizing force. Giving brings happiness and is said to kindle further generosity, producing merit and good results in accordance with one’s intention and cultivated virtues.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Vasiṣṭha speaks as a teacher, defining the spiritual power of giving. He frames donation as a fire-like principle that activates the impulse to give and yields auspicious outcomes.