Shloka 2
Bhūmi-dānasya Māhātmya
The Pre-eminence of Land-Gift
युधिष्ठिरने कहा--कुरुकुलपुंगव! भरतश्रेष्ठ! बगीचे लगाने और जलाशय बनवानेका जो फल होता है, उसीको अब मैं आपके मुखसे सुनना चाहता हूँ ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | supradarśā balavatī citrā dhātuvibhūṣitā | upetā sarvabhūtaiś ca śreṣṭhā bhūmir ihocyate ||
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “O tuktok ng angkan ng Kuru, O pinakadakila sa mga Bharata! Nais kong marinig ngayon mula sa iyong sariling bibig ang bunga ng pagtatanim ng mga halamanan at ng pagpapagawa ng mga imbakan ng tubig.” Sumagot si Bhīṣma: “O Hari! Ang lupain na tinatawag na pinakamainam dito ay yaong kaaya-ayang pagmasdan, matatag at mataba, sari-sari at pinalamutian ng maraming mineral, at tinitirhan ng lahat ng uri ng nilalang.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma defines ‘excellent land’ as that which is beautiful, fertile and strong, resource-rich, and capable of sustaining diverse life—implying that dharmic value lies in supporting life and common welfare, the basis for praising acts like planting groves and building water-reservoirs.
In the Anushasana Parva, Yudhishthira asks about the fruit (merit) of establishing gardens and constructing water bodies. Bhishma responds by first describing what constitutes the best kind of land, preparing the ground for a discussion of charitable, life-sustaining works.