Shloka 13
Bhūmi-dānasya Māhātmya
The Pre-eminence of Land-Gift
यस्य वै शैशिरे काले तडागे सलिलं भवेत् । तस्याग्निष्टोमयज्ञस्यथ फलमाहुर्मनीषिण:
yasya vai śaiśire kāle taḍāge salilaṁ bhavet | tasyāgniṣṭomayajñasya tathā phalam āhur manīṣiṇaḥ ||
ビーシュマは言った。「ある者の池が冬の季節を通して水を湛え続けるなら、賢者たちはその行いの功徳はアグニシュトーマ祭（Agniṣṭoma）の果報に等しいと説く。この教えにおいて、他者のために水を保つことは公共の福祉に資するダルマの行為として尊ばれ、生命と共同体を支えるがゆえに大いなる祭式の功徳に比せられる。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Maintaining a water reservoir that holds water through winter is praised as a high dharmic service; its merit is said to equal the fruit of performing the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice, emphasizing that life-sustaining public benefit can match great ritual acts.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma, he enumerates meritorious deeds; here he highlights the religious and ethical value of ensuring water availability by keeping a pond filled through the cold season.