Shloka 3
Go-apahāra (Cattle Theft), Go-dāna (Cow-Gift), and Suvarṇa-dakṣiṇā (Gold Fee): Karmic Consequence and Purificatory Merit
प्रयत्नं तत्र कुर्वाणास्तस्मात् कूपाज्जलार्थिन: । श्रमेण महता युक्तास्तस्मिंस्तोये सुसंवृते
prayatnaṁ tatra kurvāṇās tasmāt kūpāj jalārthinaḥ | śrameṇa mahatā yuktās tasmiṁs toye susaṁvṛte
Bhīṣma nói: “Vì thế, những người tìm nước từ cái giếng ấy đã dốc sức ở đó với quyết tâm bền bỉ. Dẫu mệt mỏi vô cùng, họ vẫn kiên trì, bởi nước bên trong bị che kín chắc chắn, không dễ gì lấy được.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that worthwhile aims—symbolized by water in a securely enclosed well—are attained through sustained effort (prayatna) even when accompanied by great toil (mahā-śrama). It ethically commends perseverance and disciplined striving rather than expecting easy gain.
Bhīṣma describes people who need water approaching a well and laboring hard to obtain it. Because the water is well-covered/contained, it is not immediately accessible; thus they must persist despite fatigue.