Shloka 19
Nakṣatra-yoga-anusāreṇa Dāna-vidhiḥ
Gifts prescribed according to lunar mansions and yogas
एष ते विततो यज्ञ: श्रद्धापूत: सदक्षिण:,इस प्रकार जो तुम्हारे श्रद्धासे पवित्र एवं दक्षिणायुक्त यज्ञका विस्तार हो रहा है; यह सभी यज्ञोंस बढ़कर है। तात युधिष्छिर! तुम्हारा यह यज्ञ सदा चालू रहना चाहिये
bhīṣma uvāca | eṣa te vitato yajñaḥ śraddhāpūtaḥ sadakṣiṇaḥ | sarvayajñebhyaḥ śreṣṭha eṣa | tāta yudhiṣṭhira, tava ayaṃ yajñaḥ sadā pravartitavyaḥ ||
Bhishma said: “This sacrifice of yours has been spread out in full—purified by faith and accompanied by due gifts (dakṣiṇā). It surpasses all other sacrifices. Dear Yudhishthira, this sacrifice of yours should be kept continually in motion.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A sacrifice becomes truly superior when it is grounded in śraddhā (reverent faith) and completed with dakṣiṇā (rightful gifts/charity). Bhishma emphasizes continuity: dharmic practice is not a one-time display but a sustained commitment.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma. Here he praises Yudhishthira’s ongoing sacrificial/charitable undertaking as the highest kind and urges him to keep it continually active.