History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c44.20

v3.c44.20

There is a difference in the technical meaning of *dāna* and *utsarga*. In the former the donor gives up his ownership over a thing, makes another the owner of it and cannot thereafter use it nor has he any control over it. When a man makes an *utsarga*, he no doubt gives up his ownership, but he gives up the thing for the benefit of all (as in the formula above he uses the word 'sarvabhūtebhyaḥ') and so the opinion of most writers is that he can as a member of the public make use of the thing dedicated by him, though there were a few authors who recommended that he should not do so.2077a