Shloka 15
Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda
Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity
गवां फलं तीर्थफलं यज्ञानां चैव यत् फलम् | एतत् फलमवाप्रोति यो नरोडतिथिपूजक:,जो मानव अतिथियोंकी पूजा करता है, वह गोदान, तीर्थस्थान और यज्ञानुष्ठानका फल पा लेता है
gavāṁ phalaṁ tīrthaphalaṁ yajñānāṁ caiva yat phalam | etat phalam avāpnoti yo naro ’tithipūjakaḥ ||
Bhishma bersabda: Pahala daripada menghadiahkan lembu, pahala daripada menziarahi tīrtha (tempat penyeberangan suci), dan pahala daripada melaksanakan yajña—sesiapa yang memuliakan serta menyembah tetamu, dialah yang memperoleh buah pahala itu juga.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Honoring a guest (atithi-pūjā) is a powerful form of dharma whose spiritual merit equals that of major religious acts like cow-gifting, pilgrimage, and sacrifice.
In Anushasana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma teaches by comparing results (phala): he declares that the host who reverently receives guests gains the same merit as celebrated acts of charity, pilgrimage, and ritual.