13.062
Praise of food donation
Yudhishthira said.
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)
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)
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 said.
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 said.
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)
There has not been, nor will there be, a gift equal to food. Therefore, humans especially desire to give food. (13-62-6)
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)
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)
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)
He who gives food to a deserving Brāhmaṇa who is in need, deposits an excellent otherworldly treasure for himself. (13-62-10)
A householder who desires prosperity should honor a worthy old man, weary from travel, who has come to his house. (13-62-11)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Just as farmers hope for good rain, so indeed do the ancestors hope: "Our son or grandson too will offer food." (13-62-20)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Prajapati once said in a former age: "Food is indeed immortal." Food, earth, heaven, sky—everything is established in food. (13-62-31)
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)
O best of men, invocations, marriages, sacrifices, and likewise, without food, do not exist; the Veda itself is also lost here. (13-62-33)
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)
O king, for the giver of food, strength, energy, fame, happiness, and renown always increase in the three worlds. (13-62-35)
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)
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)
O Bhārata, when water has fallen from the cloud onto the earth, then the goddess Vasumatī becomes moistened. (13-62-38)
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)
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)
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)
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 said;
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)
O king, after you offer food properly to deserving Brāhmaṇas as prescribed, you too, O lord, will attain heaven. (13-62-44)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
