Shloka 14
Nṛga-upākhyāna: Brāhmaṇa-sva and the Consequence of Misappropriated Gift-Cattle (कृकलास-रूपे नृगोपाख्यानम्)
सर्वेषामिति दानानां तिलदानं विशिष्यते । अक्षयं सर्वदानानां तिलदानमिहोच्यते
sarveṣām iti dānānāṃ tiladānaṃ viśiṣyate | akṣayaṃ sarvadānānāṃ tiladānam ihocyate ||
قال بهيشما: «من بين جميع أنواع العطاء، تُعَدُّ هِبَةُ السِّمْسِم أخصَّها فضلاً. وهنا يُعلَن أنها “غير فانية” — صدقةٌ لا ينقص ثوابها ولا يضمحلّ — متفوِّقةً على سائر العطايا في ثمرتها الروحية الدائمة».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that tiladāna (donating sesame) is uniquely meritorious among charities, described as akṣaya—yielding enduring, non-diminishing spiritual merit.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on the relative excellence of various gifts, highlighting sesame-donation as especially efficacious.