Shloka 19
Vasiṣṭha–Karāla-Janaka Saṃvāda: Aśuddha-Sevana, Guṇa-Dr̥ṣṭi, and Sāṃkhya–Yoga Ekārthatā
Mahābhārata 12.293
स्वयं ही ब्राह्मणके पास जाकर उसे संतुष्ट करते हुए जो दान दिया जाता है, उसे प्रशंसनीय--उत्तम बताया गया है और याचना करनेपर जो कुछ दिया जाता है, उसे विद्वान् पुरुष मध्यम श्रेणीका दान कहते हैं ।।
svayaṃ hi brāhmaṇake pāsa jākar use santuṣṭa karate hue yo dāna diyā jātā hai, use praśaṃsanīya—uttama batāyā gayā hai; aur yācanā karane para jo kuch diyā jātā hai, use vidvān puruṣa madhyama śreṇī kā dāna kahate haiṃ. avajñayā dīyate yat tathaivāśraddhayāpi vā | tam āhur adhamaṃ dānaṃ munayaḥ satyavādinaḥ ||
波罗舍罗说：“亲自前往婆罗门之前，使其欢悦而后施与者，被赞为最上之施。被人求乞之后才施与者，学者称为中等之施。若以轻慢之心施与，或无信心而施与，诸说真实之牟尼则宣称那是最下之施。”
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse classifies charity by the giver’s intention and manner: giving proactively with respect and the aim to please the recipient is best; giving only after being asked is middling; giving with contempt or without faith is the lowest.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Parāśara teaches ethical standards of dāna, emphasizing that inner attitude—reverence and faith—determines the moral quality of a gift.