Shloka 34
दानफलप्रकरणम् — उपानहदानं, तिलदानं, भूमिदानं, गोदानं, अन्नदानं च
Gifts and Their Stated Results: Footwear, Sesame, Land, Cows, and Food
अत्र गाथा भूमिगीता: कीर्तयन्ति पुराविद: । या: श्रुत्वा जामदग्न्येन दत्ता भू: काश्यपाय वै
atra gāthā bhūmi-gītāḥ kīrtayanti purāvidaḥ | yāḥ śrutvā jāmadagnyena dattā bhūḥ kāśyapāya vai ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Dito, ang mga pantas na nakaaalam ng sinaunang salaysay ay nagbabanggit ng mga awit na tinatawag na ‘Mga Awit ng Daigdig.’ Nang marinig ang mga taludtod na iyon, si Paraśurāma—anak ni Jamadagni—ay tunay na nagkaloob ng buong daigdig bilang handog kay Kaśyapa.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical ideal that even the greatest possession—sovereignty over the earth—can be relinquished through dāna (gift) when guided by sacred tradition and dharma; true merit lies in restraint, generosity, and honoring righteous counsel.
Bhishma introduces an ancient tradition: learned custodians of old lore recite the ‘Songs of the Earth’. Hearing these, Parashurama (son of Jamadagni) is said to have donated the entire earth to the sage Kashyapa, setting up a larger exemplum about dharma and the proper use (and relinquishment) of power and land.