Shloka 13
य एतां विदुषे दद्यात् पृथिवीं पृथिवीपति: । पृथिव्यामेतदिष्टं स राजा राज्यमितो व्रजेत्,जो पृथ्वीपति दिद्वान् ब्राह्मणोंको इस पृथ्वीका दान देता है, वह राजा इस दानके प्रभावसे पुनः राज्य प्राप्त करता है। भूमण्डलमें यह पृथ्वीदान सबको प्रिय है
ya etāṁ viduṣe dadyāt pṛthivīṁ pṛthivīpatiḥ | pṛthivyām etad iṣṭaṁ sa rājā rājyam ito vrajet ||
Bhishma said: If a lord of the earth were to gift this very earth to a learned recipient, then that king—because this gift is held most dear upon the earth—would depart from here having attained (again) his kingship. The teaching emphasizes the extraordinary merit of donating land to a worthy, learned Brahmin and the dharmic belief that such generosity restores prosperity and rightful sovereignty.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that donating land (pṛthivīdāna) to a truly learned and worthy recipient is among the most cherished gifts in the world and is believed to yield powerful merit—so powerful that it can restore a king’s prosperity and sovereignty.
Bhishma, instructing on dharma and gifts, states a rule of merit: when a king gives the earth/land to a learned person, that act is especially esteemed and leads the king, upon departing this life, to attain or regain kingship and well-being.