Shloka 66
दानफलप्रकरणम् — उपानहदानं, तिलदानं, भूमिदानं, गोदानं, अन्नदानं च
Gifts and Their Stated Results: Footwear, Sesame, Land, Cows, and Food
ददाति य: समुद्रान्तां पृथिवीं शस्त्रनिर्जिताम् । त॑ जना: कथयन्तीह यावद् भवति गौरियम्
dadāti yaḥ samudrāntāṃ pṛthivīṃ śastra-nirjitām | taṃ janāḥ kathayantīha yāvad bhavati gaur iyam ||
సముద్రాంతమైన ఈ భూమిని శస్త్రబలంతో జయించి దానమిచ్చినవాని కీర్తిని, ఈ భూమి నిలిచినంతకాలం లోకులు ఇక్కడ గానము చేస్తారు.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the highest form of generosity—giving away even a hard-won kingdom—creates lasting merit and an enduring reputation. Ethical greatness is measured not only by conquest or power, but by the capacity to relinquish what one possesses for a higher dharmic ideal.
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs on dharma, especially gifts and righteous conduct. Here he praises the extraordinary donor-king who, after conquering the earth by arms, gives it away; such a deed becomes a story people keep retelling for as long as the world lasts.