Shloka 20
Go-dāna-stuti and Ghṛta-Japa
Praise of cow-gift and ghee-centered recitation
देवव्रती स्याद् वृषभप्रदाने वेदावाप्तिगोयुगस्य प्रदाने । तथा गवां विधिमासाद्य यज्वा लोकानग्रयान् विन्दते नाविधिज्ञ:
bhīṣma uvāca | devavratī syād vṛṣabhapradāne vedāvāptigoyugasya pradāne | tathā gavāṁ vidhim āsādya yajvā lokān agrayān vindate nāvidhijñaḥ ||
ビーシュマは言った。「牡牛を施す者は devavrata（デーヴァヴラタ）—聖なる規律に堅く立つ者—となる。牝牛と牡牛の一対を施す者は、ヴェーダへと通じ、真の聖なる学を得る。さらに、定められた作法に従って牛施与の儀礼を行う者は、最上の世界に至る。しかし規定の法を知らぬ者は、勝れた果報を得ない。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Charity yields graded spiritual results, but only when performed with knowledge of dharma and proper ritual procedure (vidhi). The verse stresses that intention alone is not enough; correct method and understanding are integral to the fruit of dāna.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (Anuśāsana Parva), he explains the merits of specific gifts—bull-gift, cow-and-bull gift, and properly conducted cow-gift rites—while warning that ignorance of prescribed rules diminishes or negates the highest results.