Shloka 18
Taḍāga-Phala and Vṛkṣāropaṇa
Merit of Ponds and Tree-Planting
छत्र हि भरतश्रेष्ठ यः प्रदद्याद् द्विजातये । शुभ्रं शतशलाकं वै स प्रेत्य सुखमेधते
chatraṁ hi bharataśreṣṭha yaḥ pradadyād dvijātaye | śubhraṁ śataśalākaṁ vai sa pretya sukham edhate ||
Bhīṣma dijo: «Oh el mejor de los Bharata: quien entregue a un dos veces nacido un parasol blanco, provisto de cien varillas, tras la muerte alcanza y prospera en la dicha».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that dāna (charitable giving), specifically gifting a dignified and useful object like a white parasol to a dvija, is a dharmic act that generates puṇya and results in happiness after death.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma, especially the merits of various gifts. Here he highlights the spiritual benefit of donating a well-made parasol, framing it as a meritorious act with posthumous reward.