Bhūmi-dānasya Māhātmya
The Pre-eminence of Land-Gift
तस्मात् तांस्ते प्रवक्ष्यामि तडागे ये गुणा: स्मृता: । या च तत्र फलावाप्तिऋषिभि: समुदाहता
tasmāt tāṁs te pravakṣyāmi taḍāge ye guṇāḥ smṛtāḥ | yā ca tatra phalāvāptir ṛṣibhiḥ samudāhṛtā ||
Bhīṣma dit : C’est pourquoi je te dirai les vertus que l’on se remémore au sujet d’un étang, ainsi que l’obtention des fruits qui en découlent, tels que les sages les ont proclamés.
भीष्म उवाच
Acts of public benefit—such as constructing a pond—are upheld by tradition as dharmic deeds that yield tangible benefits and spiritual merit, as affirmed by the sages.
Bhishma continues his instruction on dharma by introducing a focused teaching: he will enumerate the recognized virtues and the promised fruits associated with building or maintaining a pond.