Shloka 53
दानफलप्रकरणम् — उपानहदानं, तिलदानं, भूमिदानं, गोदानं, अन्नदानं च
Gifts and Their Stated Results: Footwear, Sesame, Land, Cows, and Food
मघवोवाच भगवन् केन दानेन स्वर्गत: सुखमेधते । यदक्षयं महार्घ च तद् ब्रूहि वदतां वर
maghavovāca bhagavan kena dānena svargataḥ sukham edhate | yad akṣayaṁ mahārgha ca tad brūhi vadatāṁ vara ||
ইন্দ্ৰে ক’লে—হে ভগৱান, বক্তাসকলৰ মাজত শ্ৰেষ্ঠ! কোন দানৰ প্ৰভাৱত দাতাৰ সুখ স্বৰ্গৰ সুখকো অতিক্ৰম কৰি বৃদ্ধি পায়? যাৰ ফল অক্ষয় আৰু অতি মূল্যবান, সেই দানৰ কথা কওক।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharma-inquiry: among acts of giving, which dāna yields the highest, imperishable (akṣaya) fruit—so valuable that it surpasses even heavenly enjoyment. It sets up the principle that not all charity is equal; intention, worthiness, and the nature of the gift determine enduring merit.
Indra (Maghavan) poses a question to a revered authority addressed as “Bhagavan,” requesting instruction on the supreme form of charity—one whose reward is inexhaustible and of the greatest significance.