Shloka 346
Nṛga-upākhyāna: Brāhmaṇa-sva and the Consequence of Misappropriated Gift-Cattle (कृकलास-रूपे नृगोपाख्यानम्)
पिण्ड: पितृभ्यो दत्तो वै तस्यां भवति शाश्वत: । अतः विद्वान् पुरुषको चाहिये कि वह थोड़ी-सी भी भूमि खरीदकर उसका दान करे। खरीदकर अपनी की हुई भूमिमें ही पितरोंको दिया हुआ पिण्ड सदा स्थिर रहनेवाला होता है
piṇḍaḥ pitṛbhyo datto vai tasyāṃ bhavati śāśvataḥ | ataḥ vidvān puruṣaḥ krītvā svalpam api bhūmiṃ dānaṃ kuryāt | krītāyāṃ svīkṛtāyāṃ bhūmau pitṛbhyo dattaḥ piṇḍaḥ sadā sthira-bhāvī bhavati |
Bhishma dit : «L’offrande funéraire (piṇḍa) donnée aux Ancêtres devient durable lorsqu’elle est faite en lien avec une terre qui est véritablement la sienne. C’est pourquoi l’homme sage doit acheter ne fût-ce qu’un petit lopin de terre et le donner. Car le piṇḍa offert aux Pitṛs demeure établi à jamais lorsqu’il est accompli sur une terre acquise et devenue sa propriété légitime.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that ancestral offerings (piṇḍa in śrāddha) gain lasting efficacy when connected with legitimately acquired property; hence even a small purchase of land followed by donation is recommended as a stable foundation for merit and for honoring the Pitṛs.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma and gifts, Bhishma advises on proper ways to perform rites for ancestors, emphasizing the importance of rightful ownership and the special merit of donating purchased land so that offerings to the Pitṛs become enduring.