History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c43.35

v3.c43.35

A good deal has already been said above (pp. 113-114) about the persons fit to be donees (*pātra*) and an unfit one. A few more words may be added here. Dakṣa III. 17-18 states 'a gift made to one's parents, guru, friend, to a well conducted man, to one who has laid the donor under obligation, to the poor, the helpless, those endowed with special excellence, leads to rewards, while gifts made to rogues, to bards, to wrestlers, to those who devote time to bad lores, to gamblers and deceitful persons, to cāṭas, to cāraṇas and thieves brings no fruit (or merit).¹⁹⁹⁶ Manu 4. 193-200 (= Viṣṇu Dh. S. 93. 7-13) contains a list of persons to whom gifts should not be made, such as a brāhmaṇa who is like a cat or hypocrite or who does not know the veda. Bṛhad-Yama III. 34-38 enumerates those brāhmaṇas who are unfit to be invited at a śrāddha or to be donees such as lepers, those who suffer from incurable diseases, those who officiate at sacrifices for śūdras, a devalaka and seller of Veda (teaching it with a prior stipulation for money) and in IV. 55-56 says that gifts made to brāhmaṇas that are addicted to bad actions, that are covetous, devoid of Veda study and sandhyā performance, who have swerved from the vows proper (for brāhmaṇas), who are wicked and who are immersed in pleasures of sense become fruitless. Vanaparva (200. 5-9) enumerates 16 futile gifts such as to one who left off the order of *saṁnyāsa* or of wealth acquired by unjust means &c. Almost the same verses occur in Bṛhat-Parāśara (VIII. pp. 241-242), which are quoted in Par. M. I, part 1, p. 188. Vide also Vṛddha-Gautama (III. chap. pp. 508-509) for numerous futile gifts. It is one's duty to give food at the end of Vaiśvadeva to all (vide note 1779 above) and the Viṣṇudharmottara directs that as to gifts of food and clothing the only consideration is whether the donor is hungry or in need of clothes and not caste nor qualities.1996a When on seeing a needy person the donor feels pleasure and indicates it by a smiling face, when he shows honour and is free from a feeling of ill-will or irritation (towards the suppliant), that is said to be śraddhā, according to Devala.¹⁹⁹⁷ Manu IV. 235 says that he who gives a gift with honour and he who accepts it with honour both go to heaven, but if the reverse is the case they go to hell.