Shloka 13
Bhūmi-dānasya Māhātmya
The Pre-eminence of Land-Gift
यस्य वै शैशिरे काले तडागे सलिलं भवेत् । तस्याग्निष्टोमयज्ञस्यथ फलमाहुर्मनीषिण:
yasya vai śaiśire kāle taḍāge salilaṁ bhavet | tasyāgniṣṭomayajñasya tathā phalam āhur manīṣiṇaḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: “Jika kolam seseorang masih menakung air sepanjang musim sejuk, maka orang bijaksana menyatakan bahawa amalan itu menghasilkan pahala yang sama seperti korban suci Agniṣṭoma. Dalam ajaran ini, memelihara air untuk kegunaan orang ramai ditegakkan sebagai dharma kebajikan umum, disamakan dengan pahala ritual agung kerana ia menyokong kehidupan dan masyarakat.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Maintaining a water reservoir that holds water through winter is praised as a high dharmic service; its merit is said to equal the fruit of performing the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice, emphasizing that life-sustaining public benefit can match great ritual acts.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma, he enumerates meritorious deeds; here he highlights the religious and ethical value of ensuring water availability by keeping a pond filled through the cold season.