Shloka 16
Gopradāna-phalasaṃprāpti: Nāciketa’s Vision of Vaivasvata’s Realms (गोप्रदानफलसम्प्राप्तिः — नाचिकेतोपाख्यानम्)
तच्च दद्यान्नरो नित्यं यदीच्छेद् भूतिमात्मन:
tac ca dadyān naro nityaṁ yad icched bhūtim ātmanaḥ |
Bhīṣma berkata: “Sesiapa yang menginginkan kesejahteraan dirinya hendaklah bersedekah air setiap hari. Sedekah air dinyatakan menambah kemakmuran, nama baik, dan panjang umur di dunia ini. Wahai putera Kuntī, pemberi air sentiasa berada di atas musuh-musuhnya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that daily charity—specifically giving water—is a simple, universally accessible dharmic act that promotes one’s welfare, increasing prosperity, reputation, and longevity, and confers moral and social superiority even over adversaries.
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs a Pandava (addressed as ‘son of Kunti’) on duties and virtues. Here he recommends the regular practice of jaladāna, presenting it as a powerful, practical form of charity with tangible and spiritual benefits.