13.062
annadānapraśaṁsā
Praise of food donation
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
kāni dānāni loke'smin dātukāmo mahīpatiḥ। guṇādhikebhyo viprebhyo dadyād bharatasattama॥13-62-1॥
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)
kena tuṣyanti te sadyastuṣṭāḥ kiṁ pradiśantyuta. śaṁsa me tanmahābāho phalaṁ puṇyakṛtaṁ mahat ॥13-62-2॥
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)
dattaṃ kiṃ phalavadrājann iha loke paratra ca। bhavataḥ śrotum icchāmi tan me vistarato vada॥13-62-3॥
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)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
imam arthaṃ purā pṛṣṭo nārado devadarśanaḥ। yad uktavān asau tan me gadataḥ śṛṇu bhārata॥13-62-4॥
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)
nārada uvāca॥
Nārada said.
annam eva praśaṁsanti devāḥ saṛṣigaṇāḥ purā। lokatantraṁ hi yajñāś ca sarvam anne pratiṣṭhitam ॥13-62-5॥
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)
annena sadṛśaṃ dānaṃ na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati। tasmād annaṃ viśeṣeṇa dātum icchanti mānavāḥ ॥13-62-6॥
There has not been, nor will there be, a gift equal to food. Therefore, humans especially desire to give food. (13-62-6)
annam ūrjaskaraṃ loke prāṇāś cānne pratiṣṭhitāḥ। annena dhāryate sarvaṃ viśvaṃ jagad idaṃ prabho ॥13-62-7॥
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)
annād-gṛhasthā loke'smin bhikṣavas-tata eva ca। annāt prabhavati prāṇaḥ pratyakṣaṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ॥13-62-8॥
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)
kuṭumbaṃ pīḍayitvāpi brāhmaṇāya mahātmane. dātavyaṃ bhikṣave cānnam ātmano bhūtim icchatā ॥13-62-9॥
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)
brāhmaṇāyābhirūpāya yo dadyād annam arthine। nidadhāti nidhiṃ śreṣṭhaṃ pāralaukikam ātmanaḥ॥13-62-10॥
He who gives food to a deserving Brāhmaṇa who is in need, deposits an excellent otherworldly treasure for himself. (13-62-10)
śrāntamadhvani vartantaṃ vṛddham arham upasthitam। arcayed bhūtim anvicchan gṛhastho gṛham āgatam॥13-62-11॥
A householder who desires prosperity should honor a worthy old man, weary from travel, who has come to his house. (13-62-11)
krodham utpatitaṃ hitvā suśīlo vītamatsaraḥ। annadaḥ prāpnute rājan divi ca iha ca yat sukham ॥13-62-12॥
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)
nāvamanyed abhigataṃ na praṇudyāt kathañcana। api śvapāke śuni vā na dānaṃ vipraṇaśyati ॥13-62-13॥
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)
yo dadyād aparikliṣṭam annam adhvani vartate। śrāntāya adṛṣṭapūrvāya sa mahad dharmam āpnuyāt॥13-62-14॥
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)
pitṝn devān ṛṣīn viprān atithīṁś ca janādhipa। yo naraḥ prīṇayaty annais tasya puṇya-phalaṁ mahat ॥13-62-15॥
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)
kṛtvāpi pāpakaṃ karma yo dadyād annam arthine. brāhmaṇāya viśeṣeṇa na sa pāpena yujyate ॥13-62-16॥
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)
brāhmaṇeṣvakṣayaṃ dānamannaṃ śūdre mahāphalam। annadānaṃ ca śūdre ca brāhmaṇe ca viśiṣyate॥13-62-17॥
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)
na pṛcched gotracaraṇaṃ svādhyāyaṃ deśam eva vā। bhikṣito brāhmaṇen iha janma vā annaṃ prayācitaḥ॥13-62-18॥
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)
annadasyānnavṛkṣāś ca sarvakāmaphalānvitāḥ। bhavantīhātha vāmutra nṛpate nātra saṃśayaḥ॥13-62-19॥
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)
āśaṁsante hi pitaraḥ suvṛṣṭim-iva karṣakāḥ। asmākam-api putro vā pautro vā annaṁ pradāsyati ॥13-62-20॥
Just as farmers hope for good rain, so indeed do the ancestors hope: "Our son or grandson too will offer food." (13-62-20)
brāhmaṇo hi mahadbhūtaṃ svayaṃ dehīti yācate। akāmo vā sakāmo vā dattvā puṇyam avāpnuyāt ॥13-62-21॥
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)
brāhmaṇaḥ sarvabhūtānām-atithiḥ prasṛtāgrabhuk| viprā yam-abhi-gacchanti bhikṣamāṇā gṛhaṃ sadā ॥13-62-22॥
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)
satkṛtāś ca nivartante tad atīva pravardhate। mahābhoge kule janma pretya prāpnoti bhārata॥13-62-23॥
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)
dattvā tv annaṃ naro loke tathā sthānam anuttamam। mṛṣṭa-mṛṣṭānna-dāyī tu svarge vasati satkṛtaḥ॥13-62-24॥
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)
annaṃ prāṇā narāṇāṃ hi sarvam anne pratiṣṭhitam। annadaḥ paśumān putrī dhanavān bhogavān api॥13-62-25॥
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)
prāṇavāṃś cāpi bhavati rūpavāṃś ca tathā nṛpa। annadaḥ prāṇado loke sarvadaḥ procyate tu saḥ ॥13-62-26॥
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)
annaṁ hi dattvātithaye brāhmaṇāya yathāvidhi। pradātā sukham āpnoti devaiś cāpy abhipūjyate ॥13-62-27॥
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)
brāhmaṇo hi mahadbhūtaṁ kṣetraṁ carati pādavat। upyate tatra yad bījaṁ tad dhi puṇyaphalaṁ mahat ॥13-62-28॥
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)
pratyakṣaṁ prīti-jananaṁ bhoktṛ-dātror bhavat yuta। sarvāṇi anyāni dānāni parokṣa-phala-vant yuta ॥13-62-29॥
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)
annāddhi prasavaṃ viddhi ratimannāddhi bhārata। dharmārthāvannato viddhi roganāśaṃ tathānnataḥ ॥13-62-30॥
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)
annaṃ hy amṛtam ity āha purākalpe prajāpatiḥ। annaṃ bhuvaṃ divaṃ khaṃ ca sarvam anne pratiṣṭhitam॥13-62-31॥
Prajapati once said in a former age: "Food is indeed immortal." Food, earth, heaven, sky—everything is established in food. (13-62-31)
annapraṇāśe bhidyante śarīre pañca dhātavaḥ। balaṃ balavato'piha praṇaśyatyannahānitaḥ ॥13-62-32॥
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)
āvāhāś ca vivāhāś ca yajñāś cānnam ṛte tathā। na vartante naraśreṣṭha brahma cātra pralīyate ॥13-62-33॥
O best of men, invocations, marriages, sacrifices, and likewise, without food, do not exist; the Veda itself is also lost here. (13-62-33)
annataḥ sarvam etad dhi yat kiñcit sthāṇu jaṅgamam। triṣu lokeṣu dharmārtham annaṃ deyam ato budhaiḥ॥13-62-34॥
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)
annadasya manuṣyasya balamojo yaśaḥ sukham। kīrtiś ca vardhate śaśvat triṣu lokeṣu pārthiva ॥13-62-35॥
O king, for the giver of food, strength, energy, fame, happiness, and renown always increase in the three worlds. (13-62-35)
megheṣv ambhaḥ saṃnidhatte prāṇānāṃ pavanaḥ śivaḥ। tac ca meghagataṃ vāri śakro varṣati bhārata॥13-62-36॥
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)
ādattē ca rasaṃ bhaumam ādityaḥ svagabhastibhiḥ. vāyur ādityatas tāṃś ca rasān devaḥ prajāpatiḥ ॥13-62-37॥
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)
tad yadā meghato vāri patitaṃ bhavati kṣitau। tadā vasumatī devī snigdhā bhavati bhārata ॥13-62-38॥
O Bhārata, when water has fallen from the cloud onto the earth, then the goddess Vasumatī becomes moistened. (13-62-38)
tataḥ sasyāni rohanti yena vartayate jagat। māṃsa-medo-asthi-śukrāṇāṃ prādurbhāvas tataḥ punaḥ॥13-62-39॥
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)
sambhavanti tataḥ śukrāt prāṇinaḥ pṛthivīpate। agnīṣomau hi tac śukraṃ prajanaḥ puṣyataś ca ha ॥13-62-40॥
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)
evam annaṃ ca sūryaś ca pavanaḥ śukram eva ca। eka eva smṛto rāśir yato bhūtāni jajñire॥13-62-41॥
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)
prāṇān dadāti bhūtānāṃ tejaś ca bharatarṣabha। gṛham abhyāgatāya āśu yaḥ dadyād annam arthine॥13-62-42॥
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)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said;
nāradenaivamukto'hamadāmannaṃ sadā nṛpa। anasūyustvamapyannaṃ tasmāddehi gatajvaraḥ ॥13-62-43॥
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)
dattvā annaṃ vidhivad rājan viprebhyas tvam api prabho। yathāvad anurūpebhyaḥ tataḥ svargam avāpsyasi॥13-62-44॥
O king, after you offer food properly to deserving Brāhmaṇas as prescribed, you too, O lord, will attain heaven. (13-62-44)
annadānāṃ hi ye lokās tāṃs tvaṃ śṛṇu narādhipa. bhavanāni prakāśante divi teṣāṃ mahātmanām ॥ nānāsaṃsthānarūpāṇi nānāstambhānvitāni ca ॥13-62-45॥
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)
candramaṇḍalaśubhrāṇi kiṅkiṇījālavanti ca। taruṇādityavarṇāni sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca ॥13-62-46॥
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)
anekaśatabhaum āni sāntarjalavanāni ca। vaiḍūryārkaprakāśāni raupyarukmamayāni ca॥13-62-47॥
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)
sarvakāmaphalāś cāpi vṛkṣā bhavanasaṅsthitāḥ। vāpyō vīthyaḥ sabhāḥ kūpā dīrghikāś caiva sarvaśaḥ॥13-62-48॥
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)
ghoṣavanti ca yānāni yuktānyatha sahasraśaḥ। bhakṣyabhojyamayāḥ śailā vāsāṃsyābharaṇāni ca॥13-62-49॥
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)
kṣīraṃ sravantyaḥ saritas tathā caiva annaparvatāḥ. prāsādāḥ pāṇḍurābhrābhāḥ śayyāś ca kanakojjvalāḥ ॥ tān annadāḥ prapadyante tasmād annaprado bhava ॥ 13-62-50॥
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)
ete lokāḥ puṇyakṛtām annadānām mahātmanām। tasmād annaṃ viśeṣeṇa dātavyaṃ mānavair bhuvi॥13-62-51॥
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)
