Shloka 83
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
वास्तवमें उस श्रेष्ठ द्विजके रूपमें मानव-विग्रहधारी साक्षात् धर्म ही वहाँ उपस्थित थे। वे प्रवचनकुशल धर्म संतुष्टचित्त होकर उन उज्छवृत्तिधारी श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणसे इस प्रकार बोले -- ८२ ॥। शुद्धेन तव दानेन न्यायोपात्तेन धर्मत: । यथाशक्ति विसूष्टेन प्रीतो5स्मि द्विजसत्तम । अहो दान घुष्यते ते स्वर्गे स्वर्गनिवासिभि:
śvaśura uvāca |
śuddhena tava dānena nyāyopāttena dharmataḥ |
yathāśakti visṛṣṭena prīto 'smi dvijasattama |
aho dānaṃ ghuṣyate te svarge svarganivāsibhiḥ ||
当时，那位以最上二生者之相示现的人身，实为法（Dharma）亲临。他心满意足，对那位以拾遗为生的婆罗门说道：“婆罗门中的至上者啊，我对你甚为欢喜。因为你所施之物清净无染——以正当之道所得，依于法而奉施，并且量力而为。诚然，在天界，诸天众亦在彼处宣扬你的布施之德。”
श्षशुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Charity bears fruit when it is (1) pure in substance and intent, (2) earned by lawful means (nyāyopātta), (3) given in accordance with dharma, and (4) proportionate to one’s capacity (yathāśakti). Such giving is praised as ethically complete, not merely materially large.
A revered figure speaking as the father-in-law praises a Brahmin for offering pure food/charity acquired righteously and given within his means, declaring personal satisfaction and stating that even the inhabitants of heaven proclaim the merit of that gift.