Shloka 91
दानफलप्रकरणम् — उपानहदानं, तिलदानं, भूमिदानं, गोदानं, अन्नदानं च
Gifts and Their Stated Results: Footwear, Sesame, Land, Cows, and Food
भूमिदानस्य पुण्यानि फल स्वर्ग: पुरंदर । हिरण्यपुष्पाश्नौीषध्य: कुशकाञ्चनशाद्धला:
Bhīṣma uvāca | bhūmidānasya puṇyāni phalaṃ svargaḥ purandara | hiraṇyapuṣpā oṣadhayaḥ kuśakāñcanaśādvalāḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : Ô Purandara (Indra), les mérites du don de la terre portent pour fruit le ciel. On atteint un séjour où les plantes médicinales s’épanouissent en fleurs d’or, et où l’herbe sacrée kuśa et le gazon même semblent d’or. Ainsi, le don de la terre est loué comme un acte de dharma souverainement fécond, dispensant des jouissances élevées et de bon augure.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that bhūmidāna (donating land) is a highly meritorious act whose karmic fruit is attainment of svarga, poetically described as a realm of golden, auspicious abundance—highlighting the ethical value of generosity and support of livelihood/ritual life through land-gift.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma, especially gifts and their fruits. Here he addresses Indra (Purandara) while describing the heavenly rewards associated with the donation of land.