Shloka 13
Bhūmi-dānasya Māhātmya
The Pre-eminence of Land-Gift
यस्य वै शैशिरे काले तडागे सलिलं भवेत् । तस्याग्निष्टोमयज्ञस्यथ फलमाहुर्मनीषिण:
yasya vai śaiśire kāle taḍāge salilaṁ bhavet | tasyāgniṣṭomayajñasya tathā phalam āhur manīṣiṇaḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：“若有人之池塘能在冬季仍蓄水不竭，智者宣称此举所得功德，等同于阿耆尼什托摩祭（Agniṣṭoma）之果报。此教诲以为，为众人维系水源乃合乎达摩的公共福祉之行；因其养生济众，故可与重大祭仪之功德相等。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Maintaining a water reservoir that holds water through winter is praised as a high dharmic service; its merit is said to equal the fruit of performing the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice, emphasizing that life-sustaining public benefit can match great ritual acts.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma, he enumerates meritorious deeds; here he highlights the religious and ethical value of ensuring water availability by keeping a pond filled through the cold season.