Shloka 53
दानफलप्रकरणम् — उपानहदानं, तिलदानं, भूमिदानं, गोदानं, अन्नदानं च
Gifts and Their Stated Results: Footwear, Sesame, Land, Cows, and Food
मघवोवाच भगवन् केन दानेन स्वर्गत: सुखमेधते । यदक्षयं महार्घ च तद् ब्रूहि वदतां वर
maghavovāca bhagavan kena dānena svargataḥ sukham edhate | yad akṣayaṁ mahārgha ca tad brūhi vadatāṁ vara ||
ಇಂದ್ರನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಹೇ ಭಗವನ್, ವಕ್ತಾರರಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠನೇ! ಯಾವ ದಾನದಿಂದ ದಾತನ ಸುಖವು ಸ್ವರ್ಗದ ಸುಖಕ್ಕಿಂತಲೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿ ವೃದ್ಧಿಯಾಗುತ್ತದೆ? ಫಲವು ಅಕ್ಷಯವೂ ಮಹಾರ್ಘವೂ ಆಗಿರುವ ಆ ದಾನವನ್ನು ನನಗೆ ಹೇಳು.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharma-inquiry: among acts of giving, which dāna yields the highest, imperishable (akṣaya) fruit—so valuable that it surpasses even heavenly enjoyment. It sets up the principle that not all charity is equal; intention, worthiness, and the nature of the gift determine enduring merit.
Indra (Maghavan) poses a question to a revered authority addressed as “Bhagavan,” requesting instruction on the supreme form of charity—one whose reward is inexhaustible and of the greatest significance.