Shloka 20
Taḍāga-Phala and Vṛkṣāropaṇa
Merit of Ponds and Tree-Planting
दह्यमानाय विप्राय य: प्रयच्छत्युपानहौ । सस्नातकाय महाबाहो संशिताय द्विजातये
dahyamānāya viprāya yaḥ prayacchatyupānahau | sasnātakāya mahābāho saṃśitāya dvijātaye ||
毗湿摩说道：“大臂者啊，凡将一双鞋履施与困厄煎迫、如被艰难灼烧的婆罗门——尤其施与新成礼毕、持戒自律的斯那多迦（Snātaka）二次生者——便成就大功德之布施：既能立刻解其苦，又能尊崇学者之尊严。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma highlights practical compassion: giving even a simple necessity like sandals to an afflicted brāhmaṇa—especially a disciplined snātaka—counts as dharmic charity because it directly alleviates suffering and supports the life of study and restraint.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and the fruits of various gifts. Here he singles out the merit of gifting sandals to a distressed learned person, emphasizing timely, need-based giving.