Shloka 22
Go-dāna-stuti and Ghṛta-Japa
Praise of cow-gift and ghee-centered recitation
न चाशिष्यायात्रतायोपकुर्या- न्नाश्रद्दधधानाय न वक्रबुद्धये । गुह्यो हायं सर्वलोकस्य धर्मों नेम॑ धर्म यत्र तत्र प्रजल्पेत्
na cāśiṣyāya atratāya upakuryān nāśraddadhānāya na vakrabuddhaye | guhyo hy ayaṁ sarvalokasya dharmo na imaṁ dharmaṁ yatra tatra prajalpet ||
Bhīṣma said: One should not impart this rite of gifting a cow to a person who is not one’s disciple, who does not observe vows, who lacks faith, or whose mind is crooked. This is a dharma kept secret from the general world; therefore it should not be spoken of indiscriminately everywhere.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sacred practices—here, the go-dāna rite—should be taught only to qualified recipients: true disciples who are disciplined, faithful, and sincere. Dharma loses its sanctity and may be misused when disclosed to the unfit or spread as casual talk.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma (Anuśāsana Parva), he lays down a rule of eligibility and confidentiality: the procedure and merit of go-dāna are to be communicated selectively, not broadcast publicly, because it is considered a highly guarded religious teaching.