Shloka 29
गोप्रदानगुणाः तथा कपिलागोविधानम्
Merits of Cow-Gift and the Origin-Account of Kapilā Cows
यत् स्यादिष्ट्वा राजसूये फल तु यत् स्यादिष्ट्वा बहुना काउचनेन । एतत् तुल्यं फलमप्याहुरग्रयं सर्वे सन्तस्त्वृषयो ये च सिद्धा:
yat syādiṣṭvā rājasūye phala tu yat syādiṣṭvā bahunā kāñcanena | etat tulyaṃ phalam apy āhur agryaṃ sarve santas tv ṛṣayo ye ca siddhāḥ ||
Pitāmaha sprach: „Das Verdienst, das man durch die Darbringung des Rājasūya-Opfers erlangt, und das Verdienst, das man durch Opferhandlungen gewinnt, die von reichen Gaben an Gold begleitet sind—eine Belohnung, die jenen gleichkommt, ja eine vornehmste Belohnung, erreicht dieser Mensch. So verkünden es alle Heiligen: die Seher und vollendeten Weisen, die die Wahrheit des Opfers und seiner Früchte kennen.“
पितामह उवाच
Educational Q&A
That the highest spiritual merit is not limited to grand imperial rites like the Rājasūya; comparable and even foremost fruit can be attained through the prescribed virtuous act being discussed, as affirmed by sages and perfected beings—highlighting the ethical principle that inner righteousness and proper giving can equal external grandeur.
Bhīṣma (Pitāmaha), instructing on dharma in the Anuśāsana Parva, cites the consensus of ṛṣis and siddhas: the fruit of the act under discussion is equal to the fruit of performing the Rājasūya and of sacrifices accompanied by abundant gold-gifts, thereby authoritatively elevating its value.