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Avoidance of Intoxicants and Non-Possession
It.
stutis' of Rgveda1 reveal that the poets or purohitas were generously gifted by their patrons,and kings were the largest donors. to their priests. And in that social set up gifts were said to be made out of personal property. Danastutis are the compilations of the praises of the gifts by the king to the priestly class where liberality of the princes is commemorated. should be noted that dāna constitutes a return or reward made for the faithful services performed by the priests or any other employed servant. The receipts of gifts formed a principal source of income to the Brāhmaṇas. "What has once been promised to a Brāhmaṇa may be claimed by him like an outstanding debt. Their greatest means of support consisted in grants of land, including sometimes houses, gardens, tanks, etc., given in perpetuity to gods or priests."2 However, according to Rgveda dana is something of supreme importance, 3
In the Brāhmaṇas dāna is regarded as one among the three kinds of important duties,i.e. yajña,dāna and svādhyāya. The conception of dāna mainly emphasizes the material act of donation, which is a social value. But the liberality in performing it (dāna) also implies giving up attachment for the possessions by the donors. In this sense it has some resemblance to aparigraha.
In the Upanisads also dana is given an equally important place. It is considered the preliminary virtue of all men. A parable in the Bṛhadaranyaka Upaniṣad throws light on the meaning of 'da' as dāna. In communicating to men the knowledge which Prajapati possessed he meant dana by the term 'da' to be practised by all men, whereas he meant dayā or
1. Cambridge History of India, vol. I, p. 85.
2. E.R.E., vol. 6, p. 214.
3. gar fafa afamacal arg:*
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--Ṛgveda, 10.107.2.
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