Shloka 11
Bhūmi-dānasya Māhātmya
The Pre-eminence of Land-Gift
शरत्काले तु सलिलं तडागे यस्य तिष्ठति । गोसहस्रस्य स प्रेत्य लभते फलमुत्तमम्,जिसके तालाबमें शरत्कालतक पानी ठहरता है, वह मृत्युके पश्चात् एक हजार गोदानका उत्तम फल पाता है
śaratkāle tu salilaṃ taḍāge yasya tiṣṭhati | go-sahasrasya sa pretya labhate phalam uttamam ||
Bhīṣma berkata: Jika kolam seseorang masih menahan air hingga musim luruh, maka selepas mati dia memperoleh pahala yang utama, setara dengan sedekah seribu ekor lembu.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Maintaining a pond so that it holds water through autumn is upheld as a major dharmic service to society; its spiritual reward is said to equal the merit of donating a thousand cows.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs on dharma and the fruits of charitable acts; here he states a specific फलश्रुति (reward statement) for ensuring lasting water in a pond.