Shloka 18
Ajagara-vrata (The ‘Python’ Discipline): Prahrāda Questions a Wandering Sage
विशेषतस्तु कार्तिक्यां द्विजेभ्य: सम्प्रयच्छति । शरद् व्यपाये रत्नानि पौर्णमास्यामिति श्रुति:,विशेषत:ः कार्तिककी पूर्णिमाको, जब कि शरद्-ऋतुकी समाप्ति होती है, वह ब्राह्मणोंको रत्नोंका दान करता था; ऐसा सुननेमें आया है
viśeṣatas tu kārtikyāṁ dvijebhyaḥ samprayacchati | śarad-vyapāye ratnāni paurṇamāsyām iti śrutiḥ ||
Bhishma said: It is especially said that on the full-moon day of Kārtika—when the autumn season is passing away—he would bestow jewels as gifts upon the twice-born (Brahmins). Such is the tradition heard of in sacred report.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic ideal of timely, purposeful charity: giving valuable gifts—here, jewels—to worthy recipients (Brahmins) on an auspicious calendrical occasion (Kārtika full moon), emphasizing that dāna gains special merit when aligned with sacred time and right recipients.
Bhishma, instructing on dharma in the Śānti Parva, cites a received tradition (śruti) that a virtuous giver would particularly donate jewels to Brahmins on the Kārtika full-moon day, associated with the close of the autumn season.