Shloka 45
स कुलीन: स पुरुष: स बन्धु: स च पुण्यकृत् । स दाता स च विक्रान्तो यो ददाति वसुन्धराम्,जो पृथ्वीका दान करता है, वही कुलीन, वही पुरुष, वही बन्धु, वही पुण्यात्मा, वही दाता और वही पराक्रमी है
sa kulīnaḥ sa puruṣaḥ sa bandhuḥ sa ca puṇyakṛt | sa dātā sa ca vikrānto yo dadāti vasundharām ||
ഭൂമി ദാനം ചെയ്യുന്നവനേ കുലീനൻ; അവനേ യഥാർത്ഥ പുരുഷൻ; അവനേ ബന്ധു; അവനേ പുണ്യകൃതൻ. അവനേ ദാതാവും അവനേ വിക്രാന്തനും—വസുന്ധര ദാനം ചെയ്യുന്നവൻ.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the highest form of generosity is the gift of land (vasundharā-dāna). One who can renounce such a foundational possession is praised as truly noble, meritorious, and courageous—because the act requires both ethical commitment and inner strength.
In the Anushasana Parva’s teachings on dharma and gifts (dāna), Bhishma is instructing about the greatness of particular donations. Here he extols land-giving as a supreme act that confers exceptional moral stature on the donor.