अनुशासनपर्व अध्याय ९३ — तपस्, सदोपवास, विघसाशन, अतिथिप्रियता
Austerity, regulated fasting, residual-eating, and hospitality
ततो हि पावनात्पंक्त्या: पंक्तिपावन उच्यते । क्रोशादर्धतृतीयाच्च पावयेदेक एव हि
tato hi pāvanāt paṅktyāḥ paṅktipāvana ucyate | krośād ardhatṛtīyāc ca pāvayed eka eva hi ||
Karena ia menyucikan seluruh barisan (pankti), maka ia disebut ‘pankti-pāvana’, penyuci satu baris. Sungguh, seorang yang demikian saja dapat menyucikan orang lain sejauh satu krośa, bahkan hingga setengah dari sepertiga jarak itu.
भीष्म उवाच
A person of exceptional purity/merit is believed to sanctify not only himself but also a whole group associated with him; moral and ritual excellence is portrayed as radiating outward, benefiting others even at a distance.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma, he explains why such a person is termed ‘paṅktipāvana’—one whose presence purifies an entire row/company—and emphasizes the extraordinary reach of that purifying influence.