Shloka 9
गोमहात्म्य-प्रश्नोत्तरम्
Saudāsa–Vasiṣṭha on the Purifying Power of Cows
मनुष्य गोदान करनेसे अपनी सात पीढ़ी पहलेके पितरोंका और सात पीढ़ी आगे आनेवाली संतानोंका उद्धार करता है; किंतु यदि उसके साथ सोनेकी दक्षिणा भी दी जाय तो उस दानका फल दूना बताया गया है ।।
suvarṇaṃ paramaṃ dānaṃ suvarṇa-dakṣiṇā parā | suvarṇaṃ pāvanaṃ śakra pāvanānāṃ paraṃ smṛtam ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Ang pag-aalay ng ginto ay ipinahahayag na pinakadakila sa mga handog, at ang dakṣiṇā na ginto ang pinakmainam na kasama ng kawanggawa. O Śakra (Indra), ang ginto ay itinuturing na tagapaglinis—tunay nga, sa mga bagay na nakapaglilinis, ang ginto ang naaalalang pinakapanlinis. Sa aral na ito ng dharma, ang pagkakawanggawa ay hindi lamang gawaing panlipunan, kundi isang mabisang disiplina ng espiritu; at lalo pang tumitindi ang gantimpala kapag ang handog ay may angkop na dakṣiṇā.”
पितामह उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that giving gold is considered the supreme form of charity, and that adding an appropriate dakṣiṇā elevates the gift’s completeness and merit; gold is also praised as the most powerful purifier among purifying substances.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma (Pitāmaha) instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma, especially the ethics and fruits of dāna. Here he addresses Śakra (Indra) in a laudatory formulation while emphasizing the exceptional spiritual efficacy of suvarṇa-dāna and suvarṇa-dakṣiṇā.