Go-dāna-phala-nirdeśa
Merit and Destinations from the Gift of Cows
अरण्ये गृहवासे च शूराश्वातिथिपूजने । सर्वे यान्ति पराललोंकान् स्वकर्मफलनिर्जितान्
araṇye gṛhavāse ca śūrāśvātithipūjane | sarve yānti parāllokān svakarmaphalanirjitān ||
କେହି ଅରଣ୍ୟବାସ ଓ ତପସ୍ୟାରେ ଶୂର, କେହି ଗୃହସ୍ଥଧର୍ମ ପାଳନରେ, ଆଉ କେହି ଅତିଥି-ସେବା ଓ ପୂଜାରେ ଶୂର। ସେମାନେ ସମସ୍ତେ ନିଜ ନିଜ କର୍ମଫଳରେ ଅର୍ଜିତ ଉତ୍ତମ ଲୋକକୁ ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ ହୁଅନ୍ତି।
भीष्म उवाच
Bhīṣma affirms that multiple dharmic paths—forest-discipline, responsible household life, and devoted hospitality—can all lead to auspicious posthumous realms, because attainment depends on sincere performance and the merit (karma-phala) of one’s own deeds.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on righteous conduct, he broadens the idea of virtue: he lists different spheres where one may be ‘heroic’ (steadfast in duty) and concludes that each, when performed well, yields earned higher worlds.