Shloka 103
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
इस प्रकार श्रीमहाभारत अनुशासनपर्वके अंतर्गत दानधर्मपर्वमें ब्रह्मा और भगीरथका संवादविषयक एक सौ तीनवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ,अंगुष्टस्थान्तराले च ब्राद्मं तीर्थमुदाह्नतम् । कनिष्िकाया: पश्चात् तु देवतीर्थमिहोच्यते अँगूठेका अन्तराल (मूलस्थान) ब्राह्मतीर्थ कहलाता है, कनिष्ठा आदि अँगुलियोंका पश्चादभाग (अग्रभाग) देवतीर्थ कहा जाता है
aṅguṣṭhasthānatarāle ca brāhmaṃ tīrtham udāhṛtam | kaniṣṭhikāyāḥ paścāt tu devatīrtham ihochyate ||
Bhīṣma said: “The space at the base of the thumb is declared to be the Brāhma-tīrtha (the ‘Brahmin’ sacred point of the hand). The region behind the little finger—toward its upper/back portion—is here called the Deva-tīrtha (the ‘divine’ sacred point).”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That dharmic giving and offerings are not only about intention but also about correct ritual method: specific points on the hand are designated as ‘tīrthas’ (Brāhma-tīrtha and Deva-tīrtha), and using them properly is part of disciplined dāna-dharma.
Bhīṣma continues instructing on dāna-dharma within the Anuśāsana Parva, giving technical guidance on ritual practice—identifying which parts of the hand are termed Brāhma-tīrtha and Deva-tīrtha for performing offerings.