History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c43.48

v3.c43.48

Many texts emphasize a rule similar to that in the Bible 'But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth, that thine alms may be in secret'—Matthew VI. 3-4. Yogi-Yājñavalkya says²⁰⁰⁴ that the reward of making gifts secretly, possessing knowledge without being puffed up and engaging in *japa* without others seeing it is infinite. Devala says 'sacrifice, gift and study lose their power and perish by being declared to others, by boasting about them or by repenting of having done them. Therefore one should not without good reason (such as protecting a gift &c.) proclaim one's meritorious act.'