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Although various occasions have different things prescribed as deyam according to texts, following are considered as the greatest of gifts donating which brings unsurpassed rewards to the donor.<ref name=":1" />

Although various occasions have different things prescribed as deyam according to texts, following are considered as the greatest of gifts donating which brings unsurpassed rewards to the donor.<ref name=":1" />

'''Vidyadana''' : Along with Vashistha dharmasutras, [[Manusmrti (मनुस्मृतिः)|Manusmriti]] (4.233) and Atrismriti (340), [[Yajnavalkya Smrti (याज्ञवल्क्यस्मृतिः)|Yajnavalkya smriti]] (1.212) say that vidyadana (the gift of vidya) is foremost among other gifts such as those of water, food, cows, land, garments, sesame, gold and clarified butter.

=== '''Vidyadana''' ===

Along with Vashistha dharmasutras, [[Manusmrti (मनुस्मृतिः)|Manusmriti]] (4.233) and Atrismriti (340), [[Yajnavalkya Smrti (याज्ञवल्क्यस्मृतिः)|Yajnavalkya smriti]] (1.212) say that vidyadana (the gift of vidya) is foremost among other gifts such as those of water, food, cows, land, garments, sesame, gold and clarified butter.

'''Jaladana''' : Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva describes jaladana (the gift of water) to the thirsty as the greatest of gifts and charity. <blockquote>सर्वदानैर्गुरुतरं सर्वगानैर्विशिष्यते । पानीयं नरशार्दूल तस्माद् दातव्यमेव हि॥ (Maha. Anush. 58.21) <ref name=":22">Pt. Ramnarayandatt Shastri. ''[https://archive.org/stream/Mahabharata04SanskritHindiPanditRamnarayanGitaPress/Mahabharata06_Sanskrit-hindi_panditRamnarayan_gitaPress#page/n271/mode/2up Mahabharata with Hindi Translation, Volume 6.]'' (Anushasana Parva Adhyaya 58) Gorakhpur : Gita Press</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''sarvadānairgurutaraṁ sarvagānairviśiṣyate । pānīyaṁ naraśārdūla tasmād dātavyameva hi॥ (Maha. Anush. 58.21)''</blockquote>Bhishma says 'O Narashardula (Lion among men)  jaladana (gift of water) is the greatest and supreme among all danas, hence it should always be performed.'

=== '''Jaladana''' ===

Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva describes jaladana (the gift of water) to the thirsty as the greatest of gifts and charity. <blockquote>सर्वदानैर्गुरुतरं सर्वगानैर्विशिष्यते । पानीयं नरशार्दूल तस्माद् दातव्यमेव हि॥ (Maha. Anush. 58.21) <ref name=":22">Pt. Ramnarayandatt Shastri. ''[https://archive.org/stream/Mahabharata04SanskritHindiPanditRamnarayanGitaPress/Mahabharata06_Sanskrit-hindi_panditRamnarayan_gitaPress#page/n271/mode/2up Mahabharata with Hindi Translation, Volume 6.]'' (Anushasana Parva Adhyaya 58) Gorakhpur : Gita Press</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''sarvadānairgurutaraṁ sarvagānairviśiṣyate । pānīyaṁ naraśārdūla tasmād dātavyameva hi॥ (Maha. Anush. 58.21)''</blockquote>Bhishma says 'O Narashardula (Lion among men)  jaladana (gift of water) is the greatest and supreme among all danas, hence it should always be performed.'

'''[[Annadana (अन्नदानम्)|Annadana]]''' : Mahabharata, Vanaparva describes annadana (gift of food) as one which bestows immense punya and is equal to no other gift.<blockquote>तस्मात् त्वं सर्वदानानि हित्वान्नं सम्प्रयच्छह न हीदृशं पुण्यफलं विचित्रमिह विद्यते। (Maha. Vana. 200.35)</blockquote><blockquote>अन्नमेव विशिष्टं हि तस्मात्परतरं न च॥ (Maha. Vana. 200.37)</blockquote><blockquote>''tasmāt tvaṁ sarvadānāni hitvānnaṁ samprayacchaha na hīdr̥śaṁ puṇyaphalaṁ vicitramiha vidyate। (Maha. Vana. 200.35)''</blockquote><blockquote>''annameva viśiṣṭaṁ hi tasmātparataraṁ na ca॥ (Maha. Vana. 200.37)''</blockquote>'''Bhudana''' : According to Vashishta Dharmasutras (29.16) Matsya Purana and Mahabharata Anushasana parva (Adhyaya 62), the gift of land, is proclaimed to be the highest of dana.  <blockquote>अतिदानानि सर्वाणि पृथवीदानमुच्यते । अचला ह्यक्षया भूमिर्दोग्ध्री कामानिहोत्तमान् ॥ (Maha. Anush. 62.2)<ref>Pt. Ramnarayandatt Shastri. ''[https://archive.org/stream/Mahabharata04SanskritHindiPanditRamnarayanGitaPress/Mahabharata06_Sanskrit-hindi_panditRamnarayan_gitaPress#page/n281/mode/2up Mahabharata with Hindi Translation, Volume 6.]'' (Anushasana Parva Adhyaya 62). Gorakhpur : Gita Press</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''atidānāni sarvāṇi pr̥thavīdānamucyate । acalā hyakṣayā bhūmirdogdhrī kāmānihottamān ॥ (Maha. Anush. 62.2)''</blockquote>[[Bhishma (भीष्मः)|Bhishma]] says 'It is said that the greatest of all great danas is prthvidana (पृथवीदानम्). Prthvi is immovable and imperishable. It bestows the best of pleasures in this world.

=== '''[[Annadana (अन्नदानम्)|Annadana]]''' ===

Mahabharata, Vanaparva describes annadana (gift of food) as one which bestows immense punya and is equal to no other gift.<blockquote>तस्मात् त्वं सर्वदानानि हित्वान्नं सम्प्रयच्छह न हीदृशं पुण्यफलं विचित्रमिह विद्यते। (Maha. Vana. 200.35)</blockquote><blockquote>अन्नमेव विशिष्टं हि तस्मात्परतरं न च॥ (Maha. Vana. 200.37)</blockquote><blockquote>''tasmāt tvaṁ sarvadānāni hitvānnaṁ samprayacchaha na hīdr̥śaṁ puṇyaphalaṁ vicitramiha vidyate। (Maha. Vana. 200.35)''</blockquote><blockquote>''annameva viśiṣṭaṁ hi tasmātparataraṁ na ca॥ (Maha. Vana. 200.37)''</blockquote>

'''Abhayadana''' : Vishnudharmasutras (92.1) says that the gift of protection from danger is the highest.

 

=== '''Abhayadana''' ===

Vishnudharmasutras (92.1) says that the gift of protection from danger is the highest.

== Dana Forms ==

== Dana Forms ==

== References ==

== References ==

[[Category:Danas]]

[[Category:Danas]]