Shloka 29
Viṣṇu-sahasranāma—Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Recitation (विष्णोर्नामसहस्रम्)
देवता भी दीपदान करनेवालेका आदर करते हैं। उसके लिये सम्पूर्ण दिशाएँ निर्मल होती हैं तथा प्रेतलोकमें जानेपर वह मनुष्य सूर्यके समान प्रकाशित होता है ।।
tasmād dīpaḥ pradātavyaḥ pānīyaṃ ca viśeṣataḥ | kapilāṃ ye prayacchanti brāhmaṇe vedapārage ||
Yama bersabda: Oleh itu, hendaklah seseorang pasti memberikan pelita, dan khususnya mempersembahkan air minum. Mereka yang menghadiahkan seekor lembu berwarna perang keemasan (kapilā) kepada seorang Brāhmaṇa yang telah menguasai Veda melakukan kebajikan yang amat besar—amal pemberian yang berbelas kasih ini membawa kesucian, kehormatan di sisi para dewa, dan kesejahteraan yang bercahaya selepas kematian, laksana matahari.
यम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse commends dāna as dharma: give light (a lamp) and, even more urgently, drinking water; and honor Veda-knowing Brāhmaṇas with worthy gifts such as a kapilā cow. Such giving is portrayed as purifying, honored by the gods, and beneficial for one’s post-mortem state.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma and gifts, Yama speaks about the fruits of charitable acts. He urges specific forms of giving—lamp and water—and praises the merit of gifting a kapilā cow to a Veda-master Brāhmaṇa, linking these acts to purity, divine approval, and radiance in the afterlife.