13.066
पानीयदानफलम्
The fruit of the gift of water.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
श्रुतं दानफलं तात यत्त्वया परिकीर्तितम्। अन्नं तु ते विशेषेण प्रशस्तमिह भारत ॥१३-६६-१॥
O dear one, I have heard from you of the fruit of giving, but among them, food is especially praised here, O Bhārata (13-66-1)
पानीयदानं परमं कथं चेह महाफलम्। इत्येतच्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि विस्तरेण पितामह ॥१३-६६-२॥
O grandsire, I wish to hear in detail how the gift of water is supreme and how it yields great fruit here. (13-66-2)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
हन्त ते वर्तयिष्यामि यथावद्भरतर्षभ। गदतस्तन्ममाद्येह शृणु सत्यपराक्रम ॥ पानीयदानात्प्रभृति सर्वं वक्ष्यामि तेऽनघ ॥१३-६६-३॥
Indeed, I shall relate everything to you as it is, O bull among the Bharatas. As I speak, listen today here to my words, O truly brave. Beginning from the giving of water, O sinless one, I shall tell you everything. (13-66-3)
यदन्नं यच्च पानीयं सम्प्रदायाश्नुते नरः। न तस्मात्परमं दानं किञ्चिदस्तीति मे मतिः ॥१३-६६-४॥
In my opinion, there is no gift greater than giving food and water to one who partakes of it. (13-66-4)
अन्नात्प्राणभृतस्तात प्रवर्तन्ते हि सर्वशः। तस्मादन्नं परं लोके सर्वदानेषु कथ्यते ॥१३-६६-५॥
Dear one, all living beings indeed arise from food in every way; therefore, food is considered the highest among all gifts in the world. (13-66-5)
अन्नाद्बलं च तेजश्च प्राणिनां वर्धते सदा। अन्नदानमतस्तस्माच्छ्रेष्ठमाह प्रजापतिः ॥१३-६६-६॥
Prajapati has said that giving food is the best, for from food, strength and energy always increase among living beings. (13-66-6)
सावित्र्या ह्यपि कौन्तेय श्रुतं ते वचनं शुभम्। यतश्चैतद्यथा चैतद्देवसत्रे महामते ॥१३-६६-७॥
O son of Kunti, you have also heard the auspicious words spoken by Sāvitrī; for this reason and in this manner, O greatly wise one, this took place in the sacrifice to the gods. (13-66-7)
अन्ने दत्ते नरेणेह प्राणा दत्ता भवन्त्युत। प्राणदानाद्धि परमं न दानमिह विद्यते ॥१३-६६-८॥
When a man gives food here, it is truly as if he gives life itself. Indeed, no gift here surpasses the gift of life. (13-66-8)
श्रुतं हि ते महाबाहो लोमशस्यापि तद्वचः। प्राणान्दत्त्वा कपोताय यत्प्राप्तं शिबिना पुरा ॥१३-६६-९॥
O mighty-armed, you have indeed heard that account of Lomaśa also—how King Śibi, in ancient times, attained (renown) by giving his own life to the pigeon. (13-66-9)
तां गतिं लभते दत्त्वा द्विजस्यान्नं विशां पते। गतिं विशिष्टां गच्छन्ति प्राणदा इति नः श्रुतम् ॥१३-६६-१०॥
Having given food to a twice-born, O lord of men, one attains that state. The givers of life attain a special state—so we have heard. (13-66-10)
अन्नं चापि प्रभवति पानीयात्कुरुसत्तम। नीरजातेन हि विना न किञ्चित्सम्प्रवर्तते ॥१३-६६-११॥
O best of the Kurus, food also arises from water. Indeed, without that which is produced from water, nothing proceeds at all. (13-66-11)
नीरजातश्च भगवान्सोमो ग्रहगणेश्वरः। अमृतं च सुधा चैव स्वाहा चैव वषट्तथा ॥१३-६६-१२॥
Soma, the venerable one born from water, lord of the group of planets, is both nectar and ambrosia, as well as the exclamations 'Svāhā' and 'Vaṣaṭ'. (13-66-12)
अन्नौषध्यो महाराज वीरुधश्च जलोद्भवाः। यतः प्राणभृतां प्राणाः सम्भवन्ति विशां पते ॥१३-६६-१३॥
O great king, food, medicinal plants, herbs, and water-born plants are those from which the lives of living beings arise, O lord of the people. (13-66-13)
देवानाममृतं चान्नं नागानां च सुधा तथा। पितॄणां च स्वधा प्रोक्ता पशूनां चापि वीरुधः ॥१३-६६-१४॥
For the gods, ambrosia and food; for the nāgas, elixir as well; for the ancestors, oblation is declared; for animals, also herbs. (13-66-14)
अन्नमेव मनुष्याणां प्राणानाहुर्मनीषिणः। तच्च सर्वं नरव्याघ्र पानीयात्सम्प्रवर्तते ॥१३-६६-१५॥
The wise say that food alone is the life of men. And, O tiger among men, all that (food) arises from water. (13-66-15)
तस्मात्पानीयदानाद्वै न परं विद्यते क्वचित्। तच्च दद्यान्नरो नित्यं य इच्छेद्भूतिमात्मनः ॥१३-६६-१६॥
Therefore, of all offerings, none is greater anywhere than the gift of water. So a man should always give it, if he desires his own prosperity. (13-66-16)
धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं जलदानं विशां पते। शत्रूंश्चाप्यधि कौन्तेय सदा तिष्ठति तोयदः ॥१३-६६-१७॥
O son of Kunti, the cloud, which is fortunate, glorious, life-giving, the giver of water, always stands above even enemies, O lord of people. (13-66-17)
सर्वकामानवाप्नोति कीर्तिं चैवेह शाश्वतीम्। प्रेत्य चानन्त्यमाप्नोति पापेभ्यश्च प्रमुच्यते ॥१३-६६-१८॥
He attains all desires and gains indeed everlasting fame here; after death, he attains the eternal and is released from sins. (13-66-18)
तोयदो मनुजव्याघ्र स्वर्गं गत्वा महाद्युते। अक्षयान्समवाप्नोति लोकानित्यब्रवीन्मनुः ॥१३-६६-१९॥
O tiger among men, the giver of water, having gone to heaven, attains imperishable worlds, O greatly radiant one—thus said Manu. (13-66-19)
