Mahabharata 3.201.58 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 201, Shloka 58
Dharma-vyādha’s Analysis of Moral Decline and the Mahābhūta–Guṇa Schema (धर्मव्याधोपदेशः)
तत्र पुष्योदका नाम नदी तेषां विधीयते | शीतलं सलिल तत्र पिबन्ति हामृतोपमम्
tatra puṣyodakā nāma nadī teṣāṃ vidhīyate | śītalaṃ salilaṃ tatra pibanti hāmṛtopamam ||
వైశంపాయనుడు పలికెను—అక్కడ వారికి పుష్యోదకా అనే నది నియమింపబడుతుంది. అక్కడ వారు ఆమె శీతలమైన, అమృతసమానమైన జలాన్ని పానము చేస్తారు—జలదాన పుణ్యఫలంగా పరలోకసుఖాన్ని పొందుతారు.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights jaladāna (the gift of water) as a powerful ethical act whose merit yields tangible comfort in the afterlife—symbolized by access to a cool, nectar-like river reserved for the righteous.
Vaiśampāyana describes a specific otherworldly provision: those who have earned merit (especially through giving water) are granted the river Puṣyodakā, from which they drink cool water like nectar.
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