History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c43.2

v3.c43.2

Manu (I. 86) and others state that in the four *yugas* (ages) viz. Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara and Kali, the principal aspects of religious life were respectively *tapas*, metaphysical knowledge, sacrifices,¹⁹⁷³ and gifts. Manu (III. 78) eulogises the stage of householder as the most worthy because all men in the other āśramas are cherished and fed with (Vedic) knowledge (as a teacher of Vedic students) and with food by him. Yama specifies the characteristic features of the four āśramas as follows: ‘quiescence is the *dharma* of ascetics, cessation from taking ordinary food that of forest hermits, dāna (making gifts) that of householders and obedience (or service) that of brahmacārins.’ Vide Dakṣa 1. 12-13 also for the peculiar outward characteristics of the four āśramas. Therefore the subject of *dāna* (gifts or charity) will now engage our attention.