Shloka 15
Go-dāna-stuti and Ghṛta-Japa
Praise of cow-gift and ghee-centered recitation
गोप्रदानीति वक्तव्यमर्घ्यवस्त्रवसुप्रद: । ऊर्ध्वास्या भवितव्या च वैष्णवीति च चोदयेत्
bhīṣma uvāca | gopradānīti vaktavyam arghyavastravasupradaḥ | ūrdhvāsyā bhavitavyā ca vaiṣṇavīti ca codayet ||
त्याला विधिपूर्वक ‘गोप्रदाता’ तसेच ‘अर्घ्य, वस्त्र आणि धन देणारा’ असे घोषित करावे. तसेच शुभ-विश्वासाने मुख उंच ठेवण्यास उद्युक्त करावे आणि ‘वैष्णवी’—विष्णुभक्त—असे संबोधून प्रोत्साहन द्यावे.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma emphasizes the dharmic value of dāna (charitable giving): donors of cows and other respectful gifts (honor-offerings, clothing, wealth) should be publicly acknowledged and encouraged, linking generosity with auspicious conduct and Vaiṣṇava devotion.
In Bhishma’s instruction section of the Anuśāsana Parva, he lays down prescriptive guidance on how a giver should be addressed and encouraged—praising the act of cow-gift and other donations, and urging an auspicious, uplifted demeanor along with identification as devoted to Viṣṇu.