Shloka 14
Nṛga-upākhyāna: Brāhmaṇa-sva and the Consequence of Misappropriated Gift-Cattle (कृकलास-रूपे नृगोपाख्यानम्)
सर्वेषामिति दानानां तिलदानं विशिष्यते । अक्षयं सर्वदानानां तिलदानमिहोच्यते
sarveṣām iti dānānāṃ tiladānaṃ viśiṣyate | akṣayaṃ sarvadānānāṃ tiladānam ihocyate ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Sa lahat ng uri ng pagbibigay, ang pag-aalay ng linga (sesame) ang itinuturing na higit na dakila. Dito’y ipinahahayag na ito’y ‘di-naluluma’—isang handog na ang bisa ng kabutihang-loob ay hindi nababawasan—na humihigit sa iba pang kaloob sa pangmatagalang bungang espirituwal.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that tiladāna (donating sesame) is uniquely meritorious among charities, described as akṣaya—yielding enduring, non-diminishing spiritual merit.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on the relative excellence of various gifts, highlighting sesame-donation as especially efficacious.