Shloka 65
उपदेशदोषप्रसङ्गः (Upadeśa-doṣa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Risk of Misapplied Counsel
दत्वा गाश्जैव विप्रेभ्य: पूतात्माभवदात्मवान् | तमेव चाश्रमं गत्वा चचार विपुलं तप:,ब्राह्मणोंको गोदान करके पवित्रात्मा होकर उन मनस्वी ब्राह्मणने फिर उसी आश्रमपर जाकर बड़ी भारी तपस्या की
datvā gāś caiva viprebhyaḥ pūtātmābhavad ātmavān | tam eva cāśramaṃ gatvā cacāra vipulaṃ tapaḥ ||
दत्त्वा गाश्चैव विप्रेभ्यः पूतात्मा भवदात्मवान् । तमेव चाश्रमं गत्वा चचार विपुलं तपः ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links three dharmic disciplines: dāna (giving), śauca (inner purification), and tapas (austerity). Giving—especially go-dāna to worthy Brahmins—purifies the giver’s intent, and sustained self-control culminates in deeper spiritual practice rather than mere outward merit.
A self-possessed man first donates cows to Brahmins. Having thus become purified in mind and conduct, he returns to the same hermitage and undertakes great austerities, indicating a progression from charitable action to intensified ascetic discipline.