Shloka 22
Go-dāna-stuti and Ghṛta-Japa
Praise of cow-gift and ghee-centered recitation
न चाशिष्यायात्रतायोपकुर्या- न्नाश्रद्दधधानाय न वक्रबुद्धये । गुह्यो हायं सर्वलोकस्य धर्मों नेम॑ धर्म यत्र तत्र प्रजल्पेत्
na cāśiṣyāya atratāya upakuryān nāśraddadhānāya na vakrabuddhaye | guhyo hy ayaṁ sarvalokasya dharmo na imaṁ dharmaṁ yatra tatra prajalpet ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Hindi dapat ituro ang ritwal ng pag-aalay ng baka sa taong hindi mo alagad, sa hindi tumutupad ng panata, sa walang pananampalataya, o sa may baluktot na isip. Ito ay isang dharma na itinatago sa karaniwang daigdig; kaya hindi ito dapat ipagsalita nang walang pili at saan-saan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sacred practices—here, the go-dāna rite—should be taught only to qualified recipients: true disciples who are disciplined, faithful, and sincere. Dharma loses its sanctity and may be misused when disclosed to the unfit or spread as casual talk.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma (Anuśāsana Parva), he lays down a rule of eligibility and confidentiality: the procedure and merit of go-dāna are to be communicated selectively, not broadcast publicly, because it is considered a highly guarded religious teaching.