Shloka 4
छत्रोपानहदानफलप्रशंसा — Praise of the Merit of Donating Umbrella and Footwear
भीष्म उवाच शृणु राजन्नवहितश्छत्रोपानहविस्तरम् । यथैतत् प्रथितं लोके यथा चैतत् प्रवर्तितम्,भीष्मजीने कहा--राजन्! छाते और जूतेकी उत्पत्तिकी वार्ता मैं विस्तारके साथ बता रहा हूँ, सावधान होकर सुनो। संसारमें किस प्रकार इनके दानका आरम्भ हुआ और कैसे उस दानका प्रचार हुआ, यह सब श्रवण करो
bhīṣma uvāca śṛṇu rājann avahitaś chatropānahavistaram | yathaitat prathitaṃ loke yathā caitat pravartitam ||
Bhishma said: “Listen attentively, O King, as I relate in detail the account concerning the umbrella and the footwear. Hear how this became well-known in the world, and how the practice of giving these gifts was first set in motion and then spread.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma frames a dharma-teaching on dāna by highlighting that even practical items like an umbrella and footwear can be ethically significant gifts; he will explain their origin and how their donation became an established, meritorious social practice.
Bhishma addresses the king and introduces a detailed account about the umbrella and footwear—specifically, how these objects and their gifting became famous in the world and how the custom of donating them began and spread.