Shloka 45
दानफलप्रकरणम् — उपानहदानं, तिलदानं, भूमिदानं, गोदानं, अन्नदानं च
Gifts and Their Stated Results: Footwear, Sesame, Land, Cows, and Food
स कुलीन: स पुरुष: स बन्धु: स च पुण्यकृत् । स दाता स च विक्रान्तो यो ददाति वसुन्धराम्,जो पृथ्वीका दान करता है, वही कुलीन, वही पुरुष, वही बन्धु, वही पुण्यात्मा, वही दाता और वही पराक्रमी है
sa kulīnaḥ sa puruṣaḥ sa bandhuḥ sa ca puṇyakṛt | sa dātā sa ca vikrānto yo dadāti vasundharām ||
Bhishma declara que quien entrega la tierra—es decir, quien realiza el don supremo del terreno—es verdaderamente noble de linaje, verdaderamente un hombre digno, verdaderamente un pariente en espíritu, verdaderamente un hacedor de mérito. Solo a tal persona corresponde llamarla un dador auténtico y un valiente, pues este acto encarna la más alta generosidad y la firmeza de la resolución en el dharma.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the highest form of generosity is the gift of land (vasundharā-dāna). One who can renounce such a foundational possession is praised as truly noble, meritorious, and courageous—because the act requires both ethical commitment and inner strength.
In the Anushasana Parva’s teachings on dharma and gifts (dāna), Bhishma is instructing about the greatness of particular donations. Here he extols land-giving as a supreme act that confers exceptional moral stature on the donor.