13.062
अन्नदानप्रशंसा
Praise of food donation
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira said.
कानि दानानि लोकेऽस्मिन्दातुकामो महीपतिः। गुणाधिकेभ्यो विप्रेभ्यो दद्याद्भरतसत्तम ॥१३-६२-१॥
O best of the Bharatas, which gifts in this world should a king who desires to give bestow upon Brāhmaṇas of superior qualities? (13-62-1)
केन तुष्यन्ति ते सद्यस्तुष्टाः किं प्रदिशन्त्युत। शंस मे तन्महाबाहो फलं पुण्यकृतं महत् ॥१३-६२-२॥
O mighty-armed one, by what are those who are immediately satisfied made happy? What do they indicate, or tell me about that great fruit of righteous action. (13-62-2)
दत्तं किं फलवद्राजन्निह लोके परत्र च। भवतः श्रोतुमिच्छामि तन्मे विस्तरतो वद ॥१३-६२-३॥
O king, I desire to hear from you what kind of giving is fruitful, both in this world and the next; therefore, tell me that in detail. (13-62-3)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
इममर्थं पुरा पृष्टो नारदो देवदर्शनः। यदुक्तवानसौ तन्मे गदतः शृणु भारत ॥१३-६२-४॥
O Bhārata, listen as I tell you what the divine-sighted Nārada said to me when he was formerly questioned on this matter. (13-62-4)
नारद उवाच॥
Nārada said.
अन्नमेव प्रशंसन्ति देवाः सर्षिगणाः पुरा। लोकतन्त्रं हि यज्ञाश्च सर्वमन्ने प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥१३-६२-५॥
The gods along with groups of sages formerly praised only food; for the order of the world and all sacrifices are established in food. (13-62-5)
अन्नेन सदृशं दानं न भूतं न भविष्यति। तस्मादन्नं विशेषेण दातुमिच्छन्ति मानवाः ॥१३-६२-६॥
There has not been, nor will there be, a gift equal to food. Therefore, humans especially desire to give food. (13-62-6)
अन्नमूर्जस्करं लोके प्राणाश्चान्ने प्रतिष्ठिताः। अन्नेन धार्यते सर्वं विश्वं जगदिदं प्रभो ॥१३-६२-७॥
O Lord, food that produces strength in the world; vital energies are established in food. All this universe, this world, is sustained by food. (13-62-7)
अन्नाद्गृहस्था लोकेऽस्मिन्भिक्षवस्तत एव च। अन्नात्प्रभवति प्राणः प्रत्यक्षं नात्र संशयः ॥१३-६२-८॥
In this world, both householders and mendicants depend on food; from food, life-breath arises — this is manifest, there is no doubt about it. (13-62-8)
कुटुम्बं पीडयित्वापि ब्राह्मणाय महात्मने। दातव्यं भिक्षवे चान्नमात्मनो भूतिमिच्छता ॥१३-६२-९॥
One who desires his own welfare should give food, even by distressing his family, to the Brāhmaṇa, the great-souled one, and to the beggar. (13-62-9)
ब्राह्मणायाभिरूपाय यो दद्यादन्नमर्थिने। निदधाति निधिं श्रेष्ठं पारलौकिकमात्मनः ॥१३-६२-१०॥
He who gives food to a deserving Brāhmaṇa who is in need, deposits an excellent otherworldly treasure for himself. (13-62-10)
श्रान्तमध्वनि वर्तन्तं वृद्धमर्हमुपस्थितम्। अर्चयेद्भूतिमन्विच्छन्गृहस्थो गृहमागतम् ॥१३-६२-११॥
A householder who desires prosperity should honor a worthy old man, weary from travel, who has come to his house. (13-62-11)
क्रोधमुत्पतितं हित्वा सुशीलो वीतमत्सरः। अन्नदः प्राप्नुते राजन्दिवि चेह च यत्सुखम् ॥१३-६२-१२॥
O king, one who abandons arisen anger, is of good character, free from envy, and is a giver of food attains that happiness both here and in heaven. (13-62-12)
नावमन्येदभिगतं न प्रणुद्यात्कथञ्चन। अपि श्वपाके शुनि वा न दानं विप्रणश्यति ॥१३-६२-१३॥
One should not despise or in any way reject someone who has arrived; even if the recipient is a caṇḍāla or a dog, a gift is never lost. (13-62-13)
यो दद्यादपरिक्लिष्टमन्नमध्वनि वर्तते। श्रान्तायादृष्टपूर्वाय स महद्धर्ममाप्नुयात् ॥१३-६२-१४॥
Whoever gives unspoiled food to a weary traveler whom he has not seen before while on the road, he attains great merit. (13-62-14)
पितॄन्देवानृषीन्विप्रानतिथींश्च जनाधिप। यो नरः प्रीणयत्यन्नैस्तस्य पुण्यफलं महत् ॥१३-६२-१५॥
O ruler of men, the man who pleases fathers, gods, sages, Brāhmaṇas, and guests with food obtains a great reward of merit. (13-62-15)
कृत्वापि पापकं कर्म यो दद्यादन्नमर्थिने। ब्राह्मणाय विशेषेण न स पापेन युज्यते ॥१३-६२-१६॥
Even if one has performed a sinful act, whoever gives food to a needy person—especially to a Brāhmaṇa—he is not tainted by that sin. (13-62-16)
ब्राह्मणेष्वक्षयं दानमन्नं शूद्रे महाफलम्। अन्नदानं च शूद्रे च ब्राह्मणे च विशिष्यते ॥१३-६२-१७॥
Among Brāhmaṇas, the giving of food is imperishable; for a Śūdra, it yields great merit. The donation of food, both to a Śūdra and a Brāhmaṇa, is considered especially excellent. (13-62-17)
न पृच्छेद्गोत्रचरणं स्वाध्यायं देशमेव वा। भिक्षितो ब्राह्मणेनेह जन्म वान्नं प्रयाचितः ॥१३-६२-१८॥
A Brāhmaṇa, when begging, should not ask about family, tradition, Vedic study, or country. Here, having been begged, he should give food without inquiring about birth or other matters. (13-62-18)
अन्नदस्यान्नवृक्षाश्च सर्वकामफलान्विताः। भवन्तीहाथ वामुत्र नृपते नात्र संशयः ॥१३-६२-१९॥
O king, for the giver of food, trees bearing all desired fruits appear, whether here or in the next world; of this there is no doubt. (13-62-19)
आशंसन्ते हि पितरः सुवृष्टिमिव कर्षकाः। अस्माकमपि पुत्रो वा पौत्रो वान्नं प्रदास्यति ॥१३-६२-२०॥
Just as farmers hope for good rain, so indeed do the ancestors hope: "Our son or grandson too will offer food." (13-62-20)
ब्राह्मणो हि महद्भूतं स्वयं देहीति याचते। अकामो वा सकामो वा दत्त्वा पुण्यमवाप्नुयात् ॥१३-६२-२१॥
A brāhmaṇa, indeed a great being, himself asks saying "give". Whether without desire or with desire, having given, one may attain merit. (13-62-21)
ब्राह्मणः सर्वभूतानामतिथिः प्रसृताग्रभुक्। विप्रा यमभिगच्छन्ति भिक्षमाणा गृहं सदा ॥१३-६२-२२॥
The Brāhmaṇa is the guest of all beings, the one who eats what is offered by the outstretched hand. The wise (Brāhmaṇas), seeking alms, always approach the house. (13-62-22)
सत्कृताश्च निवर्तन्ते तदतीव प्रवर्धते। महाभोगे कुले जन्म प्रेत्य प्राप्नोति भारत ॥१३-६२-२३॥
O Bhārata, when the honored ones withdraw, that (thing) grows exceedingly, and after death one gains birth in a family of great enjoyments. (13-62-23)
दत्त्वा त्वन्नं नरो लोके तथा स्थानमनुत्तमम्। मृष्टमृष्टान्नदायी तु स्वर्गे वसति सत्कृतः ॥१३-६२-२४॥
A man who gives your food in this world attains, likewise, the highest place; but the giver of finest and purest food dwells in heaven, honored. (13-62-24)
अन्नं प्राणा नराणां हि सर्वमन्ने प्रतिष्ठितम्। अन्नदः पशुमान्पुत्री धनवान्भोगवानपि ॥१३-६२-२५॥
Food is indeed the life of men; all is established in food. The giver of food has cattle, sons, wealth, and also enjoys pleasures. (13-62-25)
प्राणवांश्चापि भवति रूपवांश्च तथा नृप। अन्नदः प्राणदो लोके सर्वदः प्रोच्यते तु सः ॥१३-६२-२६॥
O king, a person becomes both endowed with vital energy and beauty. The giver of food is regarded in the world as the giver of life and of all things; that is what he is proclaimed as. (13-62-26)
अन्नं हि दत्त्वातिथये ब्राह्मणाय यथाविधि। प्रदाता सुखमाप्नोति देवैश्चाप्यभिपूज्यते ॥१३-६२-२७॥
Indeed, by giving food to a guest brāhmaṇa according to proper rules, the giver attains happiness and is also especially honoured by the gods. (13-62-27)
ब्राह्मणो हि महद्भूतं क्षेत्रं चरति पादवत्। उप्यते तत्र यद्बीजं तद्धि पुण्यफलं महत् ॥१३-६२-२८॥
The Brāhmaṇa, indeed, moves like one with feet on the great field (of being). Whatever seed is sown there, that surely yields great meritorious fruit. (13-62-28)
प्रत्यक्षं प्रीतिजननं भोक्तृदात्रोर्भवत्युत। सर्वाण्यन्यानि दानानि परोक्षफलवन्त्युत ॥१३-६२-२९॥
Giving directly brings immediate delight to both the receiver and the giver. All other types of gifts yield only indirect or unseen results. (13-62-29)
अन्नाद्धि प्रसवं विद्धि रतिमन्नाद्धि भारत। धर्मार्थावन्नतो विद्धि रोगनाशं तथान्नतः ॥१३-६२-३०॥
O Bhārata, know that generation indeed arises from food; pleasure also comes from food. Dharma and artha are derived from food, and likewise, from food comes the destruction of disease. (13-62-30)
अन्नं ह्यमृतमित्याह पुराकल्पे प्रजापतिः। अन्नं भुवं दिवं खं च सर्वमन्ने प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥१३-६२-३१॥
Prajapati once said in a former age: "Food is indeed immortal." Food, earth, heaven, sky—everything is established in food. (13-62-31)
अन्नप्रणाशे भिद्यन्ते शरीरे पञ्च धातवः। बलं बलवतोऽपीह प्रणश्यत्यन्नहानितः ॥१३-६२-३२॥
When food is lost, the five bodily elements in the body are broken apart; even the strength of a strong person perishes here due to the lack of food. (13-62-32)
आवाहाश्च विवाहाश्च यज्ञाश्चान्नमृते तथा। न वर्तन्ते नरश्रेष्ठ ब्रह्म चात्र प्रलीयते ॥१३-६२-३३॥
O best of men, invocations, marriages, sacrifices, and likewise, without food, do not exist; the Veda itself is also lost here. (13-62-33)
अन्नतः सर्वमेतद्धि यत्किञ्चित्स्थाणु जङ्गमम्। त्रिषु लोकेषु धर्मार्थमन्नं देयमतो बुधैः ॥१३-६२-३४॥
Indeed, everything here, whether immobile or moving, arises from food; therefore, in the three worlds, food should be given for the sake of dharma by the wise. (13-62-34)
अन्नदस्य मनुष्यस्य बलमोजो यशः सुखम्। कीर्तिश्च वर्धते शश्वत्त्रिषु लोकेषु पार्थिव ॥१३-६२-३५॥
O king, for the giver of food, strength, energy, fame, happiness, and renown always increase in the three worlds. (13-62-35)
मेघेष्वम्भः संनिधत्ते प्राणानां पवनः शिवः। तच्च मेघगतं वारि शक्रो वर्षति भारत ॥१३-६२-३६॥
Water is gathered in the clouds, and the wind is auspicious for living beings. That water which has entered the clouds, Indra releases as rain, O Bhārata. (13-62-36)
आदत्ते च रसं भौममादित्यः स्वगभस्तिभिः। वायुरादित्यतस्तांश्च रसान्देवः प्रजापतिः ॥१३-६२-३७॥
The sun draws the essence of the earth with his own rays. The wind carries those essences from the sun, and the god Prajapati receives them. (13-62-37)
तद्यदा मेघतो वारि पतितं भवति क्षितौ। तदा वसुमती देवी स्निग्धा भवति भारत ॥१३-६२-३८॥
O Bhārata, when water has fallen from the cloud onto the earth, then the goddess Vasumatī becomes moistened. (13-62-38)
ततः सस्यानि रोहन्ति येन वर्तयते जगत्। मांसमेदोस्थिशुक्राणां प्रादुर्भावस्ततः पुनः ॥१३-६२-३९॥
Then from that, crops arise, by which the world is sustained. Again, from that, the formation of flesh, fat, bone, and semen takes place. (13-62-39)
सम्भवन्ति ततः शुक्रात्प्राणिनः पृथिवीपते। अग्नीषोमौ हि तच्छुक्रं प्रजनः पुष्यतश्च ह ॥१३-६२-४०॥
O king of the earth, living beings arise from that semen. Indeed, Agni and Soma nourish and support that semen, which produces offspring. (13-62-40)
एवमन्नं च सूर्यश्च पवनः शुक्रमेव च। एक एव स्मृतो राशिर्यतो भूतानि जज्ञिरे ॥१३-६२-४१॥
Thus, food, the sun, the wind, and the pure (essence) — all are considered as one single mass from which beings have arisen. (13-62-41)
प्राणान्ददाति भूतानां तेजश्च भरतर्षभ। गृहमभ्यागतायाशु यो दद्यादन्नमर्थिने ॥१३-६२-४२॥
O best of the Bharatas, the one who quickly gives food to a suppliant who has come to the house imparts vital energies and lustre to living beings. (13-62-42)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said;
नारदेनैवमुक्तोऽहमदामन्नं सदा नृप। अनसूयुस्त्वमप्यन्नं तस्माद्देहि गतज्वरः ॥१३-६२-४३॥
O king, having thus been told by Nārada, I always ate food. Therefore, O blameless one, you also, now free from illness, give food. (13-62-43)
दत्त्वान्नं विधिवद्राजन्विप्रेभ्यस्त्वमपि प्रभो। यथावदनुरूपेभ्यस्ततः स्वर्गमवाप्स्यसि ॥१३-६२-४४॥
O king, after you offer food properly to deserving Brāhmaṇas as prescribed, you too, O lord, will attain heaven. (13-62-44)
अन्नदानां हि ये लोकास्तांस्त्वं शृणु नराधिप। भवनानि प्रकाशन्ते दिवि तेषां महात्मनाम् ॥ नानासंस्थानरूपाणि नानास्तम्भान्वितानि च ॥१३-६२-४५॥
O king, hear from me which worlds (are attained) by the givers of food. The mansions of those great souls shine in heaven, of various forms and endowed with many pillars. (13-62-45)
चन्द्रमण्डलशुभ्राणि किङ्किणीजालवन्ति च। तरुणादित्यवर्णानि स्थावराणि चराणि च ॥१३-६२-४६॥
Brilliant like the disc of the moon, adorned with networks of little bells; hued like the rising sun, both stationary and moving things. (13-62-46)
अनेकशतभौमानि सान्तर्जलवनानि च। वैडूर्यार्कप्रकाशानि रौप्यरुक्ममयानि च ॥१३-६२-४७॥
There are many hundreds of mansions of earth, with internal water-forests, as well as (mansions) of beryl gleaming with the brightness of the sun, and also structures made of silver and gold. (13-62-47)
सर्वकामफलाश्चापि वृक्षा भवनसंस्थिताः। वाप्यो वीथ्यः सभाः कूपा दीर्घिकाश्चैव सर्वशः ॥१३-६२-४८॥
There were trees yielding all desired fruits situated near the houses, and everywhere there were reservoirs, streets, assembly halls, wells, and ponds. (13-62-48)
घोषवन्ति च यानानि युक्तान्यथ सहस्रशः। भक्ष्यभोज्यमयाः शैला वासांस्याभरणानि च ॥१३-६२-४९॥
There were also vehicles resounding and yoked by the thousands; mountains made of edible and enjoyable things, as well as garments and ornaments. (13-62-49)
क्षीरं स्रवन्त्यः सरितस्तथा चैवान्नपर्वताः। प्रासादाः पाण्डुराभ्राभाः शय्याश्च कनकोज्ज्वलाः ॥ तानन्नदाः प्रपद्यन्ते तस्मादन्नप्रदो भव ॥१३-६२-५०॥
Rivers flowing with milk, mountains of food, palaces shining like white clouds, and beds glistening with gold—these are attained by those who give food. Therefore, be a giver of food. (13-62-50)
एते लोकाः पुण्यकृतामन्नदानां महात्मनाम्। तस्मादन्नं विशेषेण दातव्यं मानवैर्भुवि ॥१३-६२-५१॥
These worlds belong to those great souls who have performed the meritorious act of giving food. Therefore, humans should especially give food on the earth. (13-62-51)
