Shloka 27
Go-dāna-phala-nirdeśa
Merit and Destinations from the Gift of Cows
अरण्ये गृहवासे च शूराश्वातिथिपूजने । सर्वे यान्ति पराललोंकान् स्वकर्मफलनिर्जितान्
araṇye gṛhavāse ca śūrāśvātithipūjane | sarve yānti parāllokān svakarmaphalanirjitān ||
Bhīṣma enseña que la excelencia en el dharma no se limita a una sola forma de vida: unos son heroicos en la vida del bosque y la austeridad; otros, en sostener la vida del cabeza de familia; y otros, en honrar y servir al huésped. Todos ellos, por el mérito ganado con sus propios actos, alcanzan los mundos superiores que han conquistado como fruto de sus acciones.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma affirms that multiple dharmic paths—forest-discipline, responsible household life, and devoted hospitality—can all lead to auspicious posthumous realms, because attainment depends on sincere performance and the merit (karma-phala) of one’s own deeds.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on righteous conduct, he broadens the idea of virtue: he lists different spheres where one may be ‘heroic’ (steadfast in duty) and concludes that each, when performed well, yields earned higher worlds.