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Line 16: − + − + − + − − Manu summarizes this aspect by saying − − शक्तः परजने दाता स्वजने दुःखजीविनि । मध्वापातो विषास्वादः स धर्मप्रतिरूपकः । । ११.९ (Manu. Smri. 11.9) − + Line 47:
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Added transliteration for newsletter use
== Donor Qualities ==
== Donor Qualities ==
According to Devala, the donor should be free from incurable or disgusting diseases, be religious, charitably inclined, free from vices, pure and following a blameless profession for livelihood. Veda Vyasa in his smriti says (also seen in Skanda Purana) <ref name=":12" /><blockquote>शतेषु जायते शूरः सहस्रेषु च पण्डितः । वक्ता शतसहस्रेषु दाता भवति वा न वा ॥ (व्यासस्मृति ४।५८-५९; स्कन्दपुराण, मा॰ कुमा॰ २।७०).<ref>Skanda Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7_(%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83)/%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8C%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%A8 Khanda 1 Mahesvara khanda Kaumarika Khanda])</ref></blockquote>Meaning: Amongst a hundred men, one may be found to be brave, among thousands a learned man, among hundreds of thousands an orator, but a donor may or may not be found.
According to Devala, the donor should be free from incurable or disgusting diseases, be religious, charitably inclined, free from vices, pure and following a blameless profession for livelihood. Veda Vyasa in his smriti says (also seen in Skanda Purana) <ref name=":12" /><blockquote>शतेषु जायते शूरः सहस्रेषु च पण्डितः । वक्ता शतसहस्रेषु दाता भवति वा न वा ॥ (व्यासस्मृति ४।५८-५९; स्कन्दपुराण, मा॰ कुमा॰ २।७०).<ref>Skanda Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7_(%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83)/%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8C%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%A8 Khanda 1 Mahesvara khanda Kaumarika Khanda])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''śateṣu jāyate śūraḥ sahasreṣu ca paṇḍitaḥ । vaktā śatasahasreṣu dātā bhavati vā na vā ॥ (vyāsasmr̥ti 4।58-59; skandapurāṇa, mā॰ kumā॰ 2।70).''</blockquote>Meaning: Amongst a hundred men, one may be found to be brave, among thousands a learned man, among hundreds of thousands an orator, but a donor may or may not be found.
Scriptures have not laid any restrictions as who can take the sankalp of donation and be a donor. Any person irrespective of age, gender can make a donation
==== Shraddha ====
==== Shraddha ====
==== Property ====
==== Property ====
Several smritis note that it is a rare sight to see a man giving away in charity wealth earned by him. Veda Vyasa Jaimini (6.7.1 to7) establishes several propositions namely - a donor can gift only those objects that he owns and has earned them by just means. He cannot make a gift of what one's relatives (parents, sons and others) own in the Visvajit yaga among other things.<ref name=":12" /> Yajnavalkya Smriti (2.175) states
Several smritis note that it is a rare sight to see a man giving away in charity wealth earned by him. Vedavyasa smriti, Jaimini smriti (6.7.1 to7) establishes several propositions namely - a donor can gift only those objects that he owns and has earned them by just means. He cannot make a gift of what one's relatives (parents, sons and others) own in the Visvajit yaga among other things.<ref name=":12" /> Yajnavalkya Smriti (2.175) states
: स्वं कुटुम्बाविरोधेन देयं दारसुतादृते इति । <ref>Yajnavalkya Smriti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Vyavahara Adhyaya Dattapradanika Prakarana])</ref>
: स्वं कुटुम्बाविरोधेन देयं दारसुतादृते इति ।<ref>Yajnavalkya Smriti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Vyavahara Adhyaya Dattapradanika Prakarana])</ref> ''svaṁ kuṭumbāvirodhena deyaṁ dārasutādr̥te iti ।''
Meaning : One's property may be given as gift without detriment to the family.<ref name=":2">Justice M. Rama Jois. (First Ed: 1984 Reprint: 2010) ''Legal and Constitutional History of India - Ancient Legal, Judicial and Constitutional System.'' New Delhi: Universal Law Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd.</ref>
Meaning : One's property may be given as gift without detriment to the family.<ref name=":2">Justice M. Rama Jois. (First Ed: 1984 Reprint: 2010) ''Legal and Constitutional History of India - Ancient Legal, Judicial and Constitutional System.'' New Delhi: Universal Law Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd.</ref>
==== Family Sustenance ====
==== Family Sustenance ====
Narada Smriti (Dattapradanika) also says that the donor has to provide for his family and part of the remaining income can be given as gift.<ref name=":2" /> <blockquote>कुटुम्बभरणाद्द्रव्यं यत्किंचिदतिरिच्यते । तद्देयं उपहृत्यान्यद्ददद्दोषं अवाप्नुयात् । । ४.०६ । ।<ref>Narada Smriti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Vyavaharapadani Dattapradanikam])</ref></blockquote>Meaning : After providing for maintenance of the family, only the remainder alone may be given (as gift). By giving away more than that, the owner incurs censure.
Narada Smriti (Dattapradanika) also says that the donor has to provide for his family and part of the remaining income can be given as gift.<ref name=":2" /> <blockquote>कुटुम्बभरणाद्द्रव्यं यत्किंचिदतिरिच्यते । तद्देयं उपहृत्यान्यद्ददद्दोषं अवाप्नुयात् । । ४.०६ । ।<ref>Narada Smriti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Vyavaharapadani Dattapradanikam])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''kuṭumbabharaṇāddravyaṁ yatkiṁcidatiricyate । taddeyaṁ upahr̥tyānyaddadaddoṣaṁ avāpnuyāt । । 4.06 । ।''</blockquote>Meaning : After providing for maintenance of the family, only the remainder alone may be given (as gift). By giving away more than that, the owner incurs censure.
The charity of him who has wealth enough to make gifts to strangers, when his own people live a life of misery, is only a false imitation of dharma, it is at first like honey but will taste like poison (later).
Manu summarizes this aspect by saying <blockquote>शक्तः परजने दाता स्वजने दुःखजीविनि । मध्वापातो विषास्वादः स धर्मप्रतिरूपकः । । ११.९ (Manu. Smri. 11.9)</blockquote><blockquote>''śaktaḥ parajane dātā svajane duḥkhajīvini । madhvāpāto viṣāsvādaḥ sa dharmapratirūpakaḥ । । 11.9 (Manu. Smri. 11.9)''</blockquote>The charity of him who has wealth enough to make gifts to strangers, when his own people live a life of misery, is only a false imitation of dharma, it is at first like honey but will taste like poison (later).
Hemadri quotes Sivadharma to the effect that a man should set apart three parts out of five from his acquisitions for himself and his family and two parts for dharma as life is evanescent.<ref name=":12" />
Hemadri quotes Sivadharma to the effect that a man should set apart three parts out of five from his acquisitions for himself and his family and two parts for dharma as life is evanescent.<ref name=":12" />
== Great Donors in History ==
== Great Donors in History ==
Danaveera is an interesting concept and is used to denote a person who is very courageous and true to his/her words in matters related to dana. Indian texts abound with stories of many such donors.<ref name=":02">Agarwal, Sanjay. (2010) ''Daan and Other Giving Traditions in India.'' New Delhi: AccountAid, India</ref>
Danaveera is an interesting concept and is used to denote a person who is very courageous and true to his/her words in matters related to dana. Bharat's texts abound with stories of many such donors.<ref name=":02">Agarwal, Sanjay. (2010) ''Daan and Other Giving Traditions in India.'' New Delhi: AccountAid, India</ref>
* Vagdana - Satya Harishchandra (सत्यहरिश्चन्द्रः)
* '''Vagdana''' - Satya [[Harishchandra (सत्यहरिश्चन्द्रः)]]
* Bhudana - Bali Chakravarti (बलिचक्रवर्तिः)
* '''Bhudana''' - [[Bali Chakravarti (बलिचक्रवर्तिः)]]
* Abhayadana - Shibi Chakravarti (शिबिचक्रवर्तिः)
* '''Abhayadana''' - [[Shibi Chakravarti (शिबिचक्रवर्ती)|Shibi Chakravarti (शिबिचक्रवर्तिः)]]
* Annadana - Ranitdeva (रन्तिदेवः)
* '''[[Annadana (अन्नदानम्)|Annadana]]''' - [[Rantideva (रन्तिदेवः)]]
Apart from these great people who went to great lengths to fulfill their sankalpa of giving mostly for community welfare, a special mention of fame of Karna (कर्णः) is made in Mahabharata as Danaveera.
During the battle of Mahabharat, Karn donated his life-saving armour to Shri Krishn, disguised as a Brahmin, knowing fully well that it may lead to his death.
Another popular story relates to the time when Karn lay dying on the battlefield. According to this version, Shri Krishna expressed remorse at Karn's imminent death, as he was a great donor. Arjuna was not convinced. To prove his point, Shri Krishn went to Karn, dressed as a Brahmin, and asked for some help. Karn advised the Brahmin to visit his house, as he had no money. When the Brahmin hesitated, Karn requested him to extract his gold tooth instead. The Brahmin again resisted this offer, which involved violence. Karn then dragged himself to a stone nearby, and removed his tooth himself. He then washed it with water extracted from Earth, and offered the gold as daan to the Brahmin. At this Shri Krishn showed his real self, and blessed Karn.
This story also refers to another popular tale of Karn’s generosity. A Brahmin approached King Yudhishthir for some dry sandalwood to cook his food. As it was raining, all the sandalwood was wet, and none could be obtained from the city’s merchants either. King Yudhishthir then apologized to the Brahmin for not being able to arrange the sandalwood. The Brahmin then went to Karn's house. Karn also had no dry sandalwood. However, he immediately pulled off the sandalwood doors to his mansions, and gave the wood to the seeker. This story is meant to illustrate the depth of Karn's generosity, about how he was innovative in ways to help any seeker who approached him.
== References ==
== References ==
[[Category:Danas]]