Shloka 10
Gopradāna-phalasaṃprāpti: Nāciketa’s Vision of Vaivasvata’s Realms (गोप्रदानफलसम्प्राप्तिः — नाचिकेतोपाख्यानम्)
प्राणान् दत्त्वा कपोताय यत् प्राप्ते शिबिना पुरा । तां गतिं लभते दत्त्वा द्विजस्यान्नं विशाम्पते
prāṇān dattvā kapotāya yat prāpte śibinā purā | tāṁ gatiṁ labhate dattvā dvijasya annaṁ viśāmpate prajānātha |
ビーシュマは言った。「いにしえ、シビ王は一羽の鳩のために自らの命をささげ、至高の行き先を得た。同じく、民の主にして臣民の守護者よ、バラモンに食を施す者は、そのまさに同じ境地に到るのである。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse equates the spiritual merit of feeding a brāhmaṇa (anna-dāna) with the famed self-sacrifice of King Śibi for a dove, emphasizing that sincere giving—especially of essential sustenance—leads to exalted spiritual attainment.
Bhīṣma addresses the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) and cites an ancient exemplar: Śibi, who gave up his life to protect a dove. Bhīṣma uses this story to praise and recommend the ethical power of giving food to a brāhmaṇa.