Shloka 27
Go-dāna-phala-nirdeśa
Merit and Destinations from the Gift of Cows
अरण्ये गृहवासे च शूराश्वातिथिपूजने । सर्वे यान्ति पराललोंकान् स्वकर्मफलनिर्जितान्
araṇye gṛhavāse ca śūrāśvātithipūjane | sarve yānti parāllokān svakarmaphalanirjitān ||
ビーシュマは説く。ダルマにおける卓越は、ただ一つの生き方に限られない。ある者は森に住み苦行に励むことにおいて勇ましく、ある者は家住の務めを保つことにおいて勇ましく、またある者は客人を敬い仕えることにおいて勇ましい。かかる人々は皆、自らの行いによって積んだ功徳により、業の果として勝ち得た高き世界へと至るのである。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma affirms that multiple dharmic paths—forest-discipline, responsible household life, and devoted hospitality—can all lead to auspicious posthumous realms, because attainment depends on sincere performance and the merit (karma-phala) of one’s own deeds.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on righteous conduct, he broadens the idea of virtue: he lists different spheres where one may be ‘heroic’ (steadfast in duty) and concludes that each, when performed well, yields earned higher worlds.