Shloka 56
Śrāddha-Kalpa: Pitṛ-Pūjā and Tithi-Phala (श्राद्धकल्पः पितृपूजा च तिथिफलम्)
सब दक्षिणाओंमें सुवर्णका ही विधान है; अतः जो सुवर्ण दान करते हैं, वे सब कुछ दान करनेवाले होते हैं ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | sarva-dakṣiṇāsu suvarṇasyaiva vidhānaḥ; ataḥ ye suvarṇaṃ dadati te sarvaṃ dadati || devatās te prayacchanti ye suvarṇaṃ dadaty atha | agnir hi devatāḥ sarvāḥ suvarṇaṃ ca tad-ātmakam ||
Wika ni Bhishma: Sa lahat ng daksina at mga handog, ang ginto ang lalo’t higit na itinakda; kaya ang nagbibigay ng ginto ay itinuturing na nagkaloob na ng lahat. Tunay, ang nag-aalay ng ginto ay sinasabing nag-aalay sa mga diyos mismo—sapagkat si Agni, ang Apoy, ay kinasasangkutan ng lahat ng mga diyos, at ang ginto ay may likas at anyong kapareho ng Apoy.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Gold-giving is praised as a supreme form of dāna and dakṣiṇā: because gold is identified with Agni, and Agni is said to contain all deities, donating gold is symbolically equivalent to honoring all gods and thus counts as an all-encompassing gift.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma continues advising on the ethics and fruits of giving. Here he elevates suvarṇa-dāna by linking it to yajña symbolism: gold is treated as the essence/form of sacrificial Fire, so its donation carries broad religious and moral merit.