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 ||
பீஷ்மர் கூறினார்—யாருடைய குளத்தில் சிசிரகாலம் (மாசி-பால்குனம்) வரை நீர் நிலைத்திருக்கிறதோ, அவருக்கு அக்னிஷ்டோம யாகத்தின் பலன் சமம் என்று ஞானிகள் உரைக்கின்றனர்.
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.