Shloka 24
नक्षत्रेषु श्राद्धफलविधानम् (Śrāddha Outcomes According to Nakṣatras)
चन्द्रमाने भेंड़ा दिया, सूर्यने मनोहर कान्ति प्रदान की, गोमाता सुरभि देवीने एक लाख गौएँ प्रदान कीं ।। छागमन्निर्गुणोपेतमिला पुष्पफलं बहु । सुधन्वा शकटं चैव रथं चामितकूबरम्
candramāne bheṇḍā diyā, sūryena manoharā kāntiḥ pradattā, gomātā surabhī devyā ekalakṣaṃ gāvaḥ pradattāḥ || chāgam annirguṇopetam ilā puṣpaphalaṃ bahu | sudhanvā śakaṭaṃ caiva rathaṃ cāmitakūbaram ||
Bhishma said: “From the Moon there was a gift of a ram; from the Sun, a delightful radiance was bestowed; and from Surabhī, the divine Cow-mother, a hundred thousand cows were granted. There were also goats, abundant food of excellent quality, and plentiful flowers and fruits; and Sudhanvan gave a cart, and also a chariot with an immeasurable load-bearing capacity.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores dāna-dharma: righteous giving should be abundant, life-supporting, and socially beneficial. Gifts like cattle and food symbolize nourishment and continuity of community life, while the association with celestial/divine sources elevates generosity as aligned with cosmic order and merit.
Bhishma is listing notable gifts and benefactions—ram from the Moon, radiance from the Sun, a vast herd from Surabhi, along with goats, fine food, flowers and fruits, and finally a cart and a grand chariot given by Sudhanvan—illustrating exemplary generosity and the kinds of offerings praised in dharmic discourse.