Shloka 33

Bhūmi-dānasya Māhātmya

The Pre-eminence of Land-Gift

Devanagari script

तस्मात्‌ तडागं कुर्वीत आरामांश्वैव रोपयेत्‌ । यजेच्च विविधैर्यज्जै: सत्यं च सततं वदेत्‌,इसलिये मनुष्यको चाहिये कि वह तालाब खोदाये, बगीचे लगाये, भाँति-भाँतिके यज्ञोंका अनुष्ठान करे तथा सदा सत्य बोले

Transliteration

tasmāt taḍāgaṁ kurvīta ārāmāṁś caiva ropayet | yajec ca vividhair yajñaiḥ satyaṁ ca satataṁ vadet ||

Translation

Therefore, one should have a pond excavated and plant pleasure-groves and gardens; one should also perform sacrifices of various kinds, and continually speak the truth. In Bhīṣma’s ethical instruction, these acts join public welfare, piety, and personal integrity as practical pillars of dharma.

Word by Word

• {'tasmāt': 'therefore

• for that reason', 'taḍāgam': 'pond, tank (a water-reservoir for public benefit)', 'kurvīta': 'should cause to be made

• should undertake (optative, injunction)', 'ārāmān': 'gardens, groves, pleasure-grounds

• cultivated resting places', 'ca eva': 'and indeed

• also', 'ropayet': 'should plant

• should cause to be planted', 'yajet': 'should sacrifice

• should perform worship/ritual offering', 'vividhaiḥ': 'various

• manifold', 'yajñaiḥ': 'by sacrifices

• ritual acts of offering', 'satyam': 'truth

• truthfulness', 'satataṁ': 'always

• continually', 'vadet': 'should speak

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• taḍāga (pond/tank)
• ārāma (garden/grove)
• yajña (sacrifice)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma teaches a practical dharma: create public goods (dig ponds, plant gardens), uphold religious duty (perform various yajñas), and maintain moral integrity (speak truth always).

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma, as an elder teacher, continues advising on righteous conduct by listing concrete, socially beneficial and ethically binding actions.