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→Great Donors in History: added story of Karna
== 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>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 ====
* '''Abhayadana''' - [[Shibi Chakravarti (शिबिचक्रवर्तिः)]]
* '''Abhayadana''' - [[Shibi Chakravarti (शिबिचक्रवर्तिः)]]
* '''Annadana''' - [[Rantideva (रन्तिदेवः)]]
* '''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 ==