Shloka 17
Gopradāna-phalasaṃprāpti: Nāciketa’s Vision of Vaivasvata’s Realms (गोप्रदानफलसम्प्राप्तिः — नाचिकेतोपाख्यानम्)
धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं जलदानमिहोच्यते । शत्रृंक्षाप्पधि कौन्तेय सदा तिष्ठति तोयद:
bhīṣma uvāca | dhanyaṃ yaśasyam āyuṣyaṃ jaladānam ihocyate | śatrūṃkṣāp padhi kaunteya sadā tiṣṭhati toyadaḥ ||
بھیشم نے کہا—اس دنیا میں پانی کا دان مبارک، ناموری بخشنے والا اور عمر بڑھانے والا کہا گیا ہے۔ اے کُنتی کے فرزند! پانی دینے والا ہمیشہ دشمنوں سے بھی بلند رہتا ہے۔
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that giving water (jaladāna) is a highly meritorious, accessible form of charity that brings auspiciousness, fame, and longevity, and that its spiritual merit places the giver in a position of strength even against enemies.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s dharma-instruction section, Bhishma continues advising the Kuru prince (addressed as Kaunteya) on righteous conduct, highlighting water-giving as a daily practice of compassion and social responsibility.