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Shloka 3

दानफलप्रकरणम् — उपानहदानं, तिलदानं, भूमिदानं, गोदानं, अन्नदानं च

Gifts and Their Stated Results: Footwear, Sesame, Land, Cows, and Food

भीष्मजीने कहा--बेटा! सब दानोंसे बढ़कर पृथ्वीदान बताया गया है। पृथ्वी अचल और अक्षय है। वह इस लोकमें समस्त उत्तम भोगोंको देनेवाली है ।।

bhīṣma uvāca—dogdhrī vāsāṃsi ratnāni paśūn vrīhi-yavāṃs tathā | bhūmidaḥ sarvabhūteṣu śāśvatīr edhate samāḥ ||

قال بهيشما: «يا بُنيّ، إنّ عطية الأرض قد عُدّت فوق جميع العطايا. فالأرض ثابتة لا تفنى ولا تنفد، وهي في هذا العالم واهبةٌ لكلّ المتع الرفيعة. إنها كالبقرة الحلوب تُدرّ الثيابَ والجواهرَ والأنعامَ والحبوبَ كالأرزّ والشعير. لذلك فإنّ واهبَ الأرض يظلّ مزدهرًا بين جميع الكائنات، نائلًا خيرًا دائمًا لا يُضاهى.»

दोग्ध्रीthe milch-giver; provider
दोग्ध्री:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदोग्ध्री (दुह्-धातोः स्त्रीलिङ्ग-कर्तृवाचक-प्रातिपदिकम्)
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
वासांसिgarments
वासांसि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवासस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
रत्नानिjewels
रत्नानि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootरत्न
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
पशून्cattle/animals
पशून्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपशु
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
व्रीहियवान्rice and barley
व्रीहियवान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootव्रीहि + यव
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
तथाand also/likewise
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
भूमिदःthe giver of land
भूमिदः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootभूमिद (भूमि + द)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सर्वभूतेषुamong all beings
सर्वभूतेषु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसर्व + भूत
FormNeuter, Locative, Plural
शाश्वतीःeverlasting (prosperities)
शाश्वतीः:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootशाश्वती (शाश्वत)
FormFeminine, Accusative, Plural
एधतेprospers/thrives
एधते:
TypeVerb
Rootएध् (वृद्धौ)
FormPresent, 3rd, Singular, Ātmanepada
समाःequal (to all); impartially
समाः:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसम (समः)
FormFeminine, Accusative, Plural

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
E
Earth/Land (Bhūmi)
G
Garments
J
Jewels
C
Cattle
R
Rice
B
Barley
A
All beings (sarvabhūta)

Educational Q&A

Land-gift (bhūmi-dāna) is praised as supremely beneficial because the earth is the enduring source that generates all necessities—food, wealth, and livelihood—so donating it is seen as producing lasting merit and prosperity.

In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on gifts and dharma, Bhishma teaches the listener (Yudhiṣṭhira in context) by describing the earth as a generous provider and concluding that the donor of land attains continual flourishing among all beings.