Shloka 2
Bhūmi-dānasya Māhātmya
The Pre-eminence of Land-Gift
युधिष्ठिरने कहा--कुरुकुलपुंगव! भरतश्रेष्ठ! बगीचे लगाने और जलाशय बनवानेका जो फल होता है, उसीको अब मैं आपके मुखसे सुनना चाहता हूँ ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | supradarśā balavatī citrā dhātuvibhūṣitā | upetā sarvabhūtaiś ca śreṣṭhā bhūmir ihocyate ||
郁提施提罗说道：“俱卢族之翘楚、婆罗多族之最胜者啊！我今愿亲从你口中听闻：栽植园林、营建水池，其功德果报为何。”毗湿摩答道：“大王啊！此世所谓最上之地，乃悦目可观，土质坚实而肥沃，斑斓多姿，富含诸般矿藏，并能容纳万类众生栖居之所。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma defines ‘excellent land’ as that which is beautiful, fertile and strong, resource-rich, and capable of sustaining diverse life—implying that dharmic value lies in supporting life and common welfare, the basis for praising acts like planting groves and building water-reservoirs.
In the Anushasana Parva, Yudhishthira asks about the fruit (merit) of establishing gardens and constructing water bodies. Bhishma responds by first describing what constitutes the best kind of land, preparing the ground for a discussion of charitable, life-sustaining works.