Shloka 3
Go-apahāra (Cattle Theft), Go-dāna (Cow-Gift), and Suvarṇa-dakṣiṇā (Gold Fee): Karmic Consequence and Purificatory Merit
प्रयत्नं तत्र कुर्वाणास्तस्मात् कूपाज्जलार्थिन: । श्रमेण महता युक्तास्तस्मिंस्तोये सुसंवृते
prayatnaṁ tatra kurvāṇās tasmāt kūpāj jalārthinaḥ | śrameṇa mahatā yuktās tasmiṁs toye susaṁvṛte
Bhīṣma bersabda: “Karena itu, orang-orang yang mencari air dari sumur itu berusaha keras di sana dengan tekad. Walau diliputi keletihan yang besar, mereka tetap bertahan, sebab air di dalamnya tertutup rapat dan tidak mudah diperoleh.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that worthwhile aims—symbolized by water in a securely enclosed well—are attained through sustained effort (prayatna) even when accompanied by great toil (mahā-śrama). It ethically commends perseverance and disciplined striving rather than expecting easy gain.
Bhīṣma describes people who need water approaching a well and laboring hard to obtain it. Because the water is well-covered/contained, it is not immediately accessible; thus they must persist despite fatigue.