Shloka 32
Phala of Vrata, Niyama, Svādhyāya, Dama, Satya, Brahmacarya, and Service (व्रत-नियम-स्वाध्याय-दम-सत्य-ब्रह्मचर्य-शुश्रूषा-फलप्रश्नः)
तिस्त्रो रात्र्यस्त्वद्धिरुपोष्य भूमौ तृप्ता गावस्तर्पिति भ्य: प्रदेया: । वत्सै: प्रीता: सुप्रजा: सोपचारा- स्त्र्यहं दत्त्वा गोरसैर्वर्तितव्यम्
tisro rātryas tv addhir upoṣya bhūmau tṛptā gāvas tarpitibhyaḥ pradeyāḥ | vatsaiḥ prītāḥ suprajāḥ sopacārās tryahaṃ dattvā gorasair vartitavyam ||
Bhishma dit : «Pendant trois nuits, on doit observer le jeûne, ne prenant que de l’eau et dormant à même le sol. Ensuite, on offrira des vaches bien nourries et rendues contentes à des brahmanes dûment satisfaits par la nourriture et d’autres attentions. Les vaches devront être accompagnées de leurs veaux, douces et paisibles, capables de donner une belle descendance, et pourvues des soins et accessoires nécessaires. Après un tel don, on vivra encore trois jours en ne prenant pour subsistance que des produits laitiers.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches a disciplined charity-observance: self-restraint (fasting, sleeping on the ground), honoring recipients properly, and giving ethically appropriate gifts (healthy, cared-for cows with calves). It frames dāna as effective when joined with austerity, purity of conduct, and respectful hospitality.
Bhishma is instructing on a specific dharmic rite/vrata connected with go-dāna. He outlines the sequence: three nights of fasting with only water and earth-bed, then gifting well-tended cows to duly honored Brahmins, and finally maintaining a three-day regimen sustained only by milk-products.