Shloka 17
Gopradāna-phalasaṃprāpti: Nāciketa’s Vision of Vaivasvata’s Realms (गोप्रदानफलसम्प्राप्तिः — नाचिकेतोपाख्यानम्)
धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं जलदानमिहोच्यते । शत्रृंक्षाप्पधि कौन्तेय सदा तिष्ठति तोयद:
bhīṣma uvāca | dhanyaṃ yaśasyam āyuṣyaṃ jaladānam ihocyate | śatrūṃkṣāp padhi kaunteya sadā tiṣṭhati toyadaḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Di dunia ini, sedekah air dinyatakan membawa berkat, mengurniakan nama, dan memanjangkan usia. Wahai putera Kuntī, pemberi air sentiasa berdiri di atas—di luar jangkauan—musuh-musuhnya, dilindungi oleh pahala sedekah yang sederhana namun menghidupkan itu.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that giving water (jaladāna) is a highly meritorious, accessible form of charity that brings auspiciousness, fame, and longevity, and that its spiritual merit places the giver in a position of strength even against enemies.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s dharma-instruction section, Bhishma continues advising the Kuru prince (addressed as Kaunteya) on righteous conduct, highlighting water-giving as a daily practice of compassion and social responsibility.