Mahabharata — Vana Parva, Shloka 58
Dharma-vyādha’s Analysis of Moral Decline and the Mahābhūta–Guṇa Schema (धर्मव्याधोपदेशः)
तत्र पुष्योदका नाम नदी तेषां विधीयते | शीतलं सलिल तत्र पिबन्ति हामृतोपमम्
tatra puṣyodakā nāma nadī teṣāṃ vidhīyate | śītalaṃ salilaṃ tatra pibanti hāmṛtopamam ||
वैशम्पायन बोले—वहाँ उनके लिये पुष्योदका नाम की नदी नियत होती है। वहाँ वे उसका शीतल, अमृत के समान मधुर जल पीते हैं—यह जलदान के पुण्य का अलौकिक फल है, जो परलोक में सुख पहुँचाता है।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights jaladāna (the gift of water) as a powerful ethical act whose merit yields tangible comfort in the afterlife—symbolized by access to a cool, nectar-like river reserved for the righteous.
Vaiśampāyana describes a specific otherworldly provision: those who have earned merit (especially through giving water) are granted the river Puṣyodakā, from which they drink cool water like nectar.
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