Shloka 256
Nṛga-upākhyāna: Brāhmaṇa-sva and the Consequence of Misappropriated Gift-Cattle (कृकलास-रूपे नृगोपाख्यानम्)
षष्ठमंशं क्रतोस्तस्य भूमिदान प्रचक्रिरे । पर्वतराज हिमालयके पास यज्ञ पूरा करके देवताओंने भूमिदान भी किया, जो उस यज्ञके छठे भागके बराबर पुण्यका जनक था
ṣaṣṭham aṁśaṁ kratos tasya bhūmidānaṁ pracakrire |
Bhīṣma dijo: Luego realizaron el don de tierra (bhūmi-dāna), una dádiva tenida por generadora de mérito igual a la sexta parte de aquel sacrificio. En el marco ético del Anuśāsana Parva, el verso subraya que el yajña no se completa sólo con el rito: se corona con el dāna—en especial con el bhūmi-dāna—por el cual el mérito del sacrificio se comparte y se vuelve sostén de la sociedad.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the ethical completion of sacrifice lies in generosity: bhūmi-dāna is presented as a high form of dāna whose merit is equated with a significant portion (one-sixth) of the yajña’s fruit, emphasizing redistribution and public welfare as integral to dharma.
Bhīṣma describes a sequence following a sacrifice: after the yajña, the performers undertake a land-gift. The statement quantifies its spiritual value, framing the donation as a major component of the sacrificial outcome.