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 ||
ಭೀಷ್ಮನು ಹೇಳಿದರು—ಯಾರ ಕೆರೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಶಿಶಿರಕಾಲ (ಮಾಘ-ಫಾಲ್ಗುಣ) ತನಕ ನೀರು ಉಳಿಯುತ್ತದೋ, ಅವನಿಗೆ ಅಗ್ನಿಷ್ಟೋಮ ಯಜ್ಞಫಲ ಸಮಾನವೆಂದು ಜ್ಞಾನಿಗಳು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾರೆ.
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.