Shloka 49
Śrāddha-Kalpa: Pitṛ-Pūjā and Tithi-Phala (श्राद्धकल्पः पितृपूजा च तिथिफलम्)
जगत सर्व च निर्मथ्य तेजोराशि: समुत्थित: । सुवर्णमे भ्यो विप्रर्षे रत्नं परममुत्तमम्
jagat sarvaṃ ca nirmathya tejorāśiḥ samutthitaḥ | suvarṇam ebhyo viprarṣe ratnaṃ paramam uttamam ||
ビーシュマは言った。「全世界が、あたかも攪拌されるかのように練り動かされたとき、赫々たる光の塊が立ち現れた。その光輝こそが黄金である。ゆえに、婆羅門の中の最勝者よ、これらの中にあって黄金は至上にして最も優れた宝である。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Gold is presented as the foremost ‘ratna’ because it embodies concentrated tejas (radiant potency). The verse frames material value in ethical-cosmic terms: what is most esteemed is that which symbolizes purity, brilliance, and auspicious power, often linked with righteous giving and ritual propriety.
Bhishma is instructing a Brahmin sage within Anushasana Parva’s didactic discourse. In the context of describing precious substances and their excellence, he explains gold’s supremacy through a metaphor of cosmic churning, from which a radiant essence emerges—identified as gold.