Shloka 13
Bhūmi-dānasya Māhātmya
The Pre-eminence of Land-Gift
यस्य वै शैशिरे काले तडागे सलिलं भवेत् । तस्याग्निष्टोमयज्ञस्यथ फलमाहुर्मनीषिण:
yasya vai śaiśire kāle taḍāge salilaṁ bhavet | tasyāgniṣṭomayajñasya tathā phalam āhur manīṣiṇaḥ ||
Bhishma dit : « Si l’étang d’un homme retient l’eau tout au long de la saison d’hiver, les sages déclarent qu’un tel acte procure un mérite égal à celui du sacrifice Agniṣṭoma. En cet enseignement, préserver l’eau pour autrui est tenu pour un acte de dharma et de bien commun, mis sur le même plan qu’un grand mérite rituel, car il soutient la vie et la communauté. »
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Maintaining a water reservoir that holds water through winter is praised as a high dharmic service; its merit is said to equal the fruit of performing the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice, emphasizing that life-sustaining public benefit can match great ritual acts.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma, he enumerates meritorious deeds; here he highlights the religious and ethical value of ensuring water availability by keeping a pond filled through the cold season.