Shloka 52
Śrāddha-Kalpa: Pitṛ-Pūjā and Tithi-Phala (श्राद्धकल्पः पितृपूजा च तिथिफलम्)
'भृगुश्रेष्ठ! वे सोनेके बने हुए मुकुट, बाजूबंद तथा अन्य नाना प्रकारके अलंकारोंसे सुशोभित होते हैं ।।
bhṛguśreṣṭha! te soneke bane hue mukuṭa, bājūbanda tathā anya nānā prakārake alaṅkāroṃ se suśobhita hote haiṃ. tasmāt sarvapavitrebhyaḥ pavitraṃ paramaṃ smṛtam; bhūme gobhyo 'tha ratnebhyaḥ tad viddhi manujarṣabha.
毗湿摩说道：“噢，婆利古族中最卓越者！他们以金制冠冕、臂钏及种种饰物而增辉。故在一切被称为清净之物中，黄金被记为至上之净化者。你当明了此理，噢，人中雄牛：即便与大地、乳牛与宝石——被尊为圣洁之物——相比，黄金仍被视为最能净化者。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts a traditional hierarchy of purity: gold (suvarṇa) is regarded as the supreme purifier, even when compared with highly revered purifying entities like earth, cows, and precious gems. In the ethical context of Anuśāsana Parva, this supports teachings on dāna (charitable gifting) and ritual propriety—gold is praised as especially auspicious and purifying when used rightly.
Bhishma, instructing as an authoritative elder, addresses a revered interlocutor (styled “best of the Bhṛgus”) and a “best of men,” describing beings adorned with gold ornaments and then drawing a doctrinal conclusion: gold is remembered in tradition as the highest purifier among sacred/pure things.