Shloka 32

Bhūmi-dānasya Māhātmya

The Pre-eminence of Land-Gift

Devanagari script

तडागकृद्‌ वृक्षरोपी इष्टयज्ञश्न यो द्विज: । एते स्वर्गे महीयन्ते ये चान्ये सत्यवादिन:

Transliteration

taḍāgakṛd vṛkṣaropī iṣṭayajñaś ca yo dvijaḥ | ete svarge mahīyante ye cānye satyavādinaḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“凡二生者（dvija）能兴建池塘、栽植树木，并如法举行祭祀者，皆在天界受尊崇；同样，那些守持真实、以真语为业者，也同受礼敬。”

Word by Word

• तडागकृत्: maker of a pond
• तडागकृत्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तडागकृत् (तडाग + कृत्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वृक्षरोपी: planter of trees
• वृक्षरोपी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्षरोपिन् (वृक्ष + रोपिन्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इष्टयज्ञश्नः: one who partakes of (the fruits/food of) sacrifices and rites
• इष्टयज्ञश्नः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: इष्टयज्ञश्न (इष्ट + यज्ञ + अश्न)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• द्विजः: a twice-born (Brahmin etc.)
• द्विजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एते: these
• एते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• स्वर्गे: in heaven
• स्वर्गे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• महीयन्ते: are honored / are revered
• Type: Verb
• Root: मह् (महीयते)
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Atmanepada, Passive/Medial (honored/are honored)

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सत्यवादिनः: truth-speakers
• सत्यवादिनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्यवादिन् (सत्य + वादिन्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• svarga (heaven)
• taḍāga (pond/tank)
• vṛkṣa (tree)
• yajña (sacrifice)
• dvija (twice-born)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Acts that benefit society (building ponds, planting trees), faithful performance of sacred duties (yajña), and unwavering truthfulness are praised as high dharma and are said to bring honor in heaven.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma (Anuśāsana Parva), he lists specific virtuous deeds and declares that such righteous people—especially truth-speakers—are esteemed in svarga.