Shloka 16
Bhūmi-dānasya Māhātmya
The Pre-eminence of Land-Gift
स कुलं॑ तारयेत् सर्व यस्य खाते जलाशये । गाव: पिबन्ति सलिलं साधवश्नल नरा: सदा,जिसके खोदवाये हुए जलाशयमें सदा साधु पुरुष और गौएँ पानी पीती हैं, वह अपने समस्त कुलका उद्धार कर देता है
sa kulaṁ tārayet sarvaṁ yasya khāte jalāśaye | gāvaḥ pibanti salilaṁ sādhavaś ca narāḥ sadā ||
بھیشم نے کہا—جس کے کھدوائے ہوئے ذخیرۂ آب سے ہمیشہ نیک مرد اور گائیں پانی پیتی رہیں، وہ اپنے پورے کُنبے/کُلان کو تار دیتا ہے۔
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Establishing a lasting public resource—especially a water reservoir used by cows and the virtuous—is a powerful act of dharma whose merit is said to redeem and uplift one’s entire lineage.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (Anushasana Parva), he praises acts of public charity; here he highlights the religious and social value of having a pond or reservoir dug for the benefit of living beings.