Shloka 22
Go-dāna-stuti and Ghṛta-Japa
Praise of cow-gift and ghee-centered recitation
न चाशिष्यायात्रतायोपकुर्या- न्नाश्रद्दधधानाय न वक्रबुद्धये । गुह्यो हायं सर्वलोकस्य धर्मों नेम॑ धर्म यत्र तत्र प्रजल्पेत्
na cāśiṣyāya atratāya upakuryān nāśraddadhānāya na vakrabuddhaye | guhyo hy ayaṁ sarvalokasya dharmo na imaṁ dharmaṁ yatra tatra prajalpet ||
Bhīṣma dijo: «No debe impartirse este rito de donar una vaca a quien no sea discípulo propio, a quien no observe votos, a quien carezca de fe o a quien tenga la mente torcida. Este es un dharma guardado en secreto para el común del mundo; por ello no debe divulgarse indiscriminadamente en todas partes.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sacred practices—here, the go-dāna rite—should be taught only to qualified recipients: true disciples who are disciplined, faithful, and sincere. Dharma loses its sanctity and may be misused when disclosed to the unfit or spread as casual talk.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma (Anuśāsana Parva), he lays down a rule of eligibility and confidentiality: the procedure and merit of go-dāna are to be communicated selectively, not broadcast publicly, because it is considered a highly guarded religious teaching.