Shloka 13
गोप्रदान-भूमिदान-विधि
Gopradāna–Bhūmidāna Guidelines and Recipient Eligibility
प्रयतो ब्राह्मणाग्रे यः श्रद्धया परया युत: । उपस्पर्शनषड्भागं लभते पुरुष: सदा,जो पुरुष सदा एकाग्रचित्त हो ब्राह्मणके आगे बड़ी श्रद्धाके साथ विनययुक्त व्यवहार करता है, वह पुरुष सदा दानके छठे भागका पुण्य प्राप्त कर लेता है
bhīṣma uvāca | prayato brāhmaṇāgre yaḥ śraddhayā parayā yutaḥ | upasparśana-ṣaḍbhāgaṃ labhate puruṣaḥ sadā ||
Bhīṣma said: The man who is self-restrained and, with supreme faith, behaves with humility before a brāhmaṇa always gains merit equal to one-sixth of the merit of a gift—through that reverent act.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Self-controlled, humble conduct toward a worthy Brahmin, performed with deep faith, is itself a dharmic act that yields significant merit—here quantified as one-sixth of the merit of a formal gift (dāna).
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma, he explains to his listener that reverent behavior—approaching and honoring a Brahmin with sincere faith—produces spiritual merit comparable to a portion of the merit gained by giving charity.