Shloka 65
उपदेशदोषप्रसङ्गः (Upadeśa-doṣa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Risk of Misapplied Counsel
दत्वा गाश्जैव विप्रेभ्य: पूतात्माभवदात्मवान् | तमेव चाश्रमं गत्वा चचार विपुलं तप:,ब्राह्मणोंको गोदान करके पवित्रात्मा होकर उन मनस्वी ब्राह्मणने फिर उसी आश्रमपर जाकर बड़ी भारी तपस्या की
datvā gāś caiva viprebhyaḥ pūtātmābhavad ātmavān | tam eva cāśramaṃ gatvā cacāra vipulaṃ tapaḥ ||
Bhishma nói: “Sau khi hiến tặng bò cho các Bà-la-môn, người ấy—tự chế ngự mình—trở nên thanh tịnh trong tâm. Rồi ông trở về chính ẩn viện ấy và thực hành một cuộc khổ hạnh lớn lao, nghiêm mật.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links three dharmic disciplines: dāna (giving), śauca (inner purification), and tapas (austerity). Giving—especially go-dāna to worthy Brahmins—purifies the giver’s intent, and sustained self-control culminates in deeper spiritual practice rather than mere outward merit.
A self-possessed man first donates cows to Brahmins. Having thus become purified in mind and conduct, he returns to the same hermitage and undertakes great austerities, indicating a progression from charitable action to intensified ascetic discipline.