Shloka 16
Bhūmi-dānasya Māhātmya
The Pre-eminence of Land-Gift
स कुलं॑ तारयेत् सर्व यस्य खाते जलाशये । गाव: पिबन्ति सलिलं साधवश्नल नरा: सदा,जिसके खोदवाये हुए जलाशयमें सदा साधु पुरुष और गौएँ पानी पीती हैं, वह अपने समस्त कुलका उद्धार कर देता है
sa kulaṁ tārayet sarvaṁ yasya khāte jalāśaye | gāvaḥ pibanti salilaṁ sādhavaś ca narāḥ sadā ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Ang sinumang nagpagawa ng imbakan ng tubig na palaging pinaiinuman ng mga banal na tao at ng mga baka, ang taong iyon ay nagiging tagapagligtas ng buong angkan niya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Establishing a lasting public resource—especially a water reservoir used by cows and the virtuous—is a powerful act of dharma whose merit is said to redeem and uplift one’s entire lineage.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (Anushasana Parva), he praises acts of public charity; here he highlights the religious and social value of having a pond or reservoir dug for the benefit of living beings.