Shloka 28

दानफलप्रकरणम् — उपानहदानं, तिलदानं, भूमिदानं, गोदानं, अन्नदानं च

Gifts and Their Stated Results: Footwear, Sesame, Land, Cows, and Food

Devanagari script

पितृश्व पितृलोकस्थान्‌ देवलोकाच्च देवता: । संतर्पयति शान्तात्मा यो ददाति वसुन्धराम्‌

Transliteration

pitṝṁś ca pitṛlokasthān devalokāc ca devatāḥ | santarpayati śāntātmā yo dadāti vasundharām ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：心地澄静之人若以土地布施，便能使居于祖灵界（Pitṛloka）的先祖满足，也能使天界（Devaloka）的诸神欢喜。

Word by Word

• पितॄन्: the fathers/ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितॄन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• पितृलोकस्थान्: dwelling in the world of the Pitṛs
• पितृलोकस्थान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितृलोकस्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• देवलोकात्: from the world of the gods
• देवलोकात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवलोक
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

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

• देवताः: the deities
• देवताः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• संतर्पयति: satisfies, gratifies
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप् (तर्पयति)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• शान्तात्मा: one whose mind/self is calm
• शान्तात्मा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्तात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• ददाति: gives
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• वसुन्धराम्: the earth (land)
• वसुन्धराम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुन्धरा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Pitṛloka
• Devatās (gods)
• Devaloka
• Vasundharā (earth/land)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The gift of land (vasundharā-dāna) is presented as an exceptionally powerful form of charity: it sustains life and livelihood in the visible world and, by its merit, spiritually gratifies both ancestors (Pitṛs) and gods (Devatās). Inner calm (śāntātmā) is highlighted as the ethical disposition that makes such giving truly dharmic.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising on the fruits of various gifts. Here he states that one who donates land, with a tranquil mind, brings satisfaction to the Pitṛs in Pitṛloka and to the gods of Devaloka—underscoring the cosmic reach of righteous generosity.