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 ||
Karena itu, akan kukatakan kepadamu kebajikan-kebajikan yang dikenang tentang sebuah kolam, serta perolehan pahala darinya sebagaimana dinyatakan para resi.
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.