Shloka 46
Śrāddha-Kalpa: Pitṛ-Pūjā and Tithi-Phala (श्राद्धकल्पः पितृपूजा च तिथिफलम्)
अग्नीषोमात्मकमिदं सुवर्ण विद्धि निश्चये
agnīṣomātmakam idaṃ suvarṇa viddhi niścaye
Bhishma said: “Know with certainty that this gold is of the very nature of Agni and Soma.” In this teaching, gold is not treated as mere metal, but as a substance symbolically grounded in sacred cosmic principles, urging the listener to regard it with reverence and discernment rather than greed.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Gold should be understood through a dharmic lens: it is linked to sacred cosmic forces (Agni and Soma), so it deserves respectful, restrained, and purposeful use rather than being treated as an object of mere attachment or exploitation.
In Bhishma’s instruction (Anushasana Parva), he explains the deeper nature of substances relevant to dharma and ritual life; here he characterizes gold as ‘Agni–Soma in essence,’ grounding its value in sacred symbolism.