Shloka 15
Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda
Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity
गवां फलं तीर्थफलं यज्ञानां चैव यत् फलम् | एतत् फलमवाप्रोति यो नरोडतिथिपूजक:,जो मानव अतिथियोंकी पूजा करता है, वह गोदान, तीर्थस्थान और यज्ञानुष्ठानका फल पा लेता है
gavāṁ phalaṁ tīrthaphalaṁ yajñānāṁ caiva yat phalam | etat phalam avāpnoti yo naro ’tithipūjakaḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : Le mérite qui vient du don de vaches, le mérite acquis en visitant les tīrtha (gués sacrés) et le mérite né de l’accomplissement des sacrifices—c’est ce même fruit qu’obtient l’homme qui honore et vénère l’hôte.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Honoring a guest (atithi-pūjā) is a powerful form of dharma whose spiritual merit equals that of major religious acts like cow-gifting, pilgrimage, and sacrifice.
In Anushasana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma teaches by comparing results (phala): he declares that the host who reverently receives guests gains the same merit as celebrated acts of charity, pilgrimage, and ritual.