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According to the shastras, brahmana dharma entails that it is the dharma of a person of Brahmana varna to be a Dana pratigrhita (दानप्रतिग्रहीता)<blockquote>यजनं याजनं चैव तथा दानप्रतिग्रहौ। अध्यापनं चाध्ययनं षट्कर्मा धर्मभाग्द्विजः॥ 13-141-67 (Maha. Anush. 13.141.67)</blockquote>Mahabharata in the context of describing the six dharmas of a brahmana (dvija) clarifies that - performing yajnas (यजनं), directing others in performing yajnas (याजनं), accepting danas (दानप्रतिग्रहीता), teaching vedas (अध्यापनं), self study (अध्ययनं) of vedas are the six karmas and dharmas of brahmana dvijas.

According to the shastras, brahmana dharma entails that it is the dharma of a person of Brahmana varna to be a Dana pratigrhita (दानप्रतिग्रहीता)<blockquote>यजनं याजनं चैव तथा दानप्रतिग्रहौ। अध्यापनं चाध्ययनं षट्कर्मा धर्मभाग्द्विजः॥ 13-141-67 (Maha. Anush. 13.141.67)</blockquote>Mahabharata in the context of describing the six dharmas of a brahmana (dvija) clarifies that - performing yajnas (यजनं), directing others in performing yajnas (याजनं), accepting danas (दानप्रतिग्रहीता), teaching vedas (अध्यापनं), self study (अध्ययनं) of vedas are the six karmas and dharmas of brahmana dvijas.

Kshatriya dharma included five duties - study of vedas, performing yajnas, giving dana (a donor), protecting citizens and punishing the guilty. Vaishya dharma included - study of vedas, performing yajnas, giving danas (a donor), protecting cows and engaging in agriculture, trade. Shudra dharmas included services and working in agriculture, carpentry, dance and sculpture. One may note that brahmana varna are traditionally acceptors while kshatriya and vaishya varnas are the donors to both brahmanas and shudras.

Kshatriya dharma included five duties - study of vedas, performing yajnas, giving dana (a donor), protecting citizens and punishing the guilty. Vaishya dharma included - study of vedas, performing yajnas, giving danas (a donor), protecting cows and engaging in agriculture, trade. Shudra dharmas included working in agriculture and services like carpentry, sculpture, dance, etc. One may note that brahmana varna are traditionally acceptors while kshatriya and vaishya varnas are the donors to both brahmanas and shudras.

=== द्विपाकौ ॥Two Results ===

=== द्विपाकौ ॥Two Results ===

There are instances in the shrutis and smritis that some danas do not yield the desired results or are considered improper actions. Such danas which are not to be performed may again be classified based on the donor, danadravya (material) time, place etc. The important ones find mention here below.

There are instances in the shrutis and smritis that some danas do not yield the desired results or are considered improper actions. Such danas which are not to be performed may again be classified based on the donor, danadravya (material) time, place etc. The important ones find mention here below.

=== द्रव्यम् ॥ Dravya ===

=== अदेयम्॥ Adeyam ===

Nine types of property should not be given in dana <ref name=":23" /> under any circumstances and one who does so should undergo prayaschitta for doing so. <blockquote>सामान्यं याचितं न्यासमाधिर्दाराश्च दर्शनम्॥ अन्वाहितं च निक्षेपः सर्वस्वं चान्वये सति॥ ४.५२ ॥ आपत्स्वपि न देयानि नववस्तूनि पंडितैः॥ यो ददाति स मूढात्मा प्रायाश्चित्तीयते नरः॥ ४.५३ ॥ (Skan. Pura. 1.4.52 and 53)</blockquote><blockquote>sāmānyaṃ yācitaṃ nyāsamādhirdārāśca darśanam॥ anvāhitaṃ ca nikṣepaḥ sarvasvaṃ cānvaye sati॥ 4.52 ॥ āpatsvapi na deyāni navavastūni paṃḍitaiḥ॥ yo dadāti sa mūḍhātmā prāyāścittīyate naraḥ॥ 4.53 ॥</blockquote>

Nine types of property should not be given in dana <ref name=":23" /> under any circumstances and one who does so should undergo prayaschitta for doing so. <blockquote>सामान्यं याचितं न्यासमाधिर्दाराश्च दर्शनम्॥ अन्वाहितं च निक्षेपः सर्वस्वं चान्वये सति॥ ४.५२ ॥ आपत्स्वपि न देयानि नववस्तूनि पंडितैः॥ यो ददाति स मूढात्मा प्रायाश्चित्तीयते नरः॥ ४.५३ ॥ (Skan. Pura. 1.4.52 and 53)</blockquote><blockquote>sāmānyaṃ yācitaṃ nyāsamādhirdārāśca darśanam॥ anvāhitaṃ ca nikṣepaḥ sarvasvaṃ cānvaye sati॥ 4.52 ॥ āpatsvapi na deyāni navavastūni paṃḍitaiḥ॥ yo dadāti sa mūḍhātmā prāyāścittīyate naraḥ॥ 4.53 ॥</blockquote>

# Samanya (सामान्यम्) - that which is ordinary or owned by everyone.

# Samanya (सामान्यम्) - that which is ordinary or owned by everyone.

# Nikshipta (निक्षिप्तम्) - that which has been entrusted to someone.

# Nikshipta (निक्षिप्तम्) - that which has been entrusted to someone.

# Sanvaya Sarvasva Dana (सन्वय सर्वस्वदानम्) - giving away everything despite availability of descendants.

# Sanvaya Sarvasva Dana (सन्वय सर्वस्वदानम्) - giving away everything despite availability of descendants.

That the donation of things that are of no use, however sacred they may be is exemplified in Kathopanishad through the famous story of [[Nachiketa (नचिकेताः)|Nachiketa]], who observes his father giving barren cows in charity to brahmins after conducting the Visvajit yajna. His father was giving away cows as a symbol of dana rather than with the real intent of giving Godana. Such acts of dana bring more harm to the donor than the rewards of charity.

The donation of things in the above category are never to be done as recognised by the Panditas and one who makes such a donation is a Mudhatma, a dullard and has to perform Prayaschitta for such an act.

=== प्रतिग्रहीता ॥ [[Acceptor (प्रतिग्रहीता)|Acceptor]] ===

=== प्रतिग्रहीता ॥ [[Acceptor (प्रतिग्रहीता)|Acceptor]] ===

A receiver should be assessed for his mental attitudes and physical conditions by the donor for a dana to be fruitful. There are sixteen kinds of payments made to acceptors that does not qualify as dana. <ref name=":02" /> Some of these that lead to a fruitless effort include dana given : to an immoral Brahmin, to a fallen Brahmin, to a thief, to a liar, to an ingrate, to a sinner, to a person who sells the Vedas, money earned through injustice to the village / town priest, to one’s father and other such gurujan, to snake-charmers, to one’s servants, to one’s family, to a person who abandons his vanprastha ashram, or sanyasa ashram and becomes a householder again.<ref>Mahabharat, Vanparv, Markandeya Samaasya Parv, 3.12.200.6-8, (Ved Vyas, 2001, p. 1524)</ref>  

A receiver should be assessed for his mental attitudes and physical conditions by the donor for a dana to be fruitful. There are sixteen kinds of payments made to acceptors that does not qualify as dana.<ref name=":02" />  

 

Some of these that lead to a fruitless effort include dana given : to an immoral Brahmin, to a fallen Brahmin, to a thief, to a liar, to an ingrate, to a sinner, to a person who sells the Vedas, money earned through injustice to the village/town priest, to one’s father and other such gurujan, to snake-charmers, to one’s servants, to one’s family, to a person who abandons his vanprastha ashram, or sanyasa ashram and becomes a householder again.<ref>Mahabharat, Vanparv, Markandeya Samaasya Parv, 3.12.200.6-8, (Ved Vyas, 2001, p. 1524)</ref>  

== References ==

== References ==

<references />

<references />

[[Category:Danas]]

[[Category:Danas]]