Shloka 313
Nṛga-upākhyāna: Brāhmaṇa-sva and the Consequence of Misappropriated Gift-Cattle (कृकलास-रूपे नृगोपाख्यानम्)
रत्नभूमिं प्रदद्यात् तु कुलवंशं प्रवर्धयेत् । खेतके योग्य भूमि दान करनेवाला मनुष्य जगत्में शुभ सम्पत्ति प्राप्त करता है और जो रत्नयुक्त भूमिका दान करता है, वह अपने कुलकी वंश-परम्पराको बढ़ाता है
ratnabhūmiṁ pradadyāt tu kulavaṁśaṁ pravardhayet | khetake yogyabhūmi dāna karanevālā manuṣya jagat-meṁ śubha sampatti prāpta karatā hai aura jo ratnayukta bhūmikā dāna karatā hai, vaha apane kula-kī vaṁśa-paramparā-ko baṛhātā hai |
Barangsiapa menganugerahkan tanah yang layak digarap, ia meraih kemakmuran yang mujur di dunia; dan barangsiapa mendermakan tanah yang kaya permata, ia membuat garis keturunan keluarganya tumbuh dan meluas.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that the ethical value of a gift lies in its real usefulness: donating cultivable land brings auspicious prosperity, while donating exceptionally valuable (treasure-bearing) land is said to strengthen and expand one’s family lineage—illustrating the Mahabharata’s link between dana (charity), social welfare, and lasting merit.
In the Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma, especially gifts and duties. Here he specifies the fruits of different kinds of land-gifts: practical arable land yields worldly prosperity, and rarer, jewel-rich land yields enduring familial and reputational benefit.