Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 13.98
हिन्दी · தமிழ் · తెలుగు · ಕನ್ನಡ · മലയാളം · বাংলা · मराठी · ગુજરાતી · ਪੰਜਾਬੀ · ଓଡ଼ିଆ · اردو · English · Español · Français · Deutsch · Português · Русский · 中文 · 日本語 · العربية · Bahasa Indonesia · ไทย
13.98.1
कानि दानानि लोकेऽस्मिन्दातुकामो महीपतिः ।
गुणाधिकेभ्यो विप्रेभ्यो दद्याद्भरतसत्तम ॥ १३.९८.१ ॥
Which gifts should a king who wishes to give in this world bestow, and what should he give to brahmins who excel in virtue, best of the Bharatas?
13.98.2
केन तुष्यन्ति ते सद्यः किं तुष्टाः प्रदिशन्ति च ।
शंस मे तन्महाबाहो फलं पुण्यकृतं महत् ॥ १३.९८.२ ॥
By what are they immediately pleased, and what do they bestow when pleased? Tell me that, O mighty-armed one: the great fruit produced by merit.
13.98.3
दत्तं किं फलवद्राजन्निह लोकें परत्र च ।
भवतः श्रोतुमिच्छामि तन्मे विस्तरतो वद
अन्नं भुवं दिवं खं च सर्वमन्ने प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥ १३.९८.३ ॥
O king, how does a gift given in this world and in the next bear fruit? I wish to hear it from you in detail; tell me. Food, earth, heaven and space — all is established in food.
13.98.4
इममर्थं पुरा पृष्टो नारदो देवदर्शनः ।
यदुक्तवानसौ वाक्यं तन्मे निगदतः शृणु ॥ १३.९८.४ ॥
This question was once put to Nārada, the seer of the gods. Listen to the words he spoke, as I relate them to you.
13.98.5
अन्नमेव प्रशंसन्ति देवा ऋषिगणास्तथा ।
लोकतन्त्रं हि यज्ञाश्च सर्वमन्ने प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥ १३.९८.५ ॥
The gods and the groups of seers praise food alone. The order of the world and the sacrifices too — all is established in food.
13.98.6
अन्नेन सदृशं दानं न भूतं न भविष्यति ।
तस्मादन्नं विशेषेणि दातुमिच्छन्ति मानवाः ॥ १३.९८.६ ॥
No gift equal to food has been or ever will be. Therefore people especially desire to give food.
13.98.7
अन्नमूर्जस्करं लोके प्राणाश्चान्ने प्रतिष्ठिताः ।
अन्नेन धार्यते सर्वं विश्वं जगदिदं प्रभो ॥ १३.९८.७ ॥
Food gives strength in the world, and the life-breaths are established in food. By food this whole universe, this world, is sustained, O lord.
13.98.8
अन्नाद्गृहस्था लोकेऽस्मिन्भिक्षवस्तापसास्तथा ।
अन्नाद्भवन्ति वै प्राणाः प्रत्यक्षं नात्र संशयः ॥ १३.९८.८ ॥
In this world householders, mendicants and ascetics alike come into being from food. Life-breaths arise from food indeed; this is plain to see, there is no doubt in it.
13.98.9
कटुम्बिने सीदते च ब्राह्मणाय महात्मने ।
दातव्यं भिक्षवे चान्नमात्मनो भूतिमिच्छता ॥ १३.९८.९ ॥
Food should be given to the householder with a family, to the suffering high-souled brahmin, and to the mendicant; one who desires his own prosperity should make such a gift.
13.98.10
ब्राह्मणायाभिरूपाय यो दद्यादन्नमर्थिने ।
निदधाति निधिं श्रेष्ठं पारलौकिकमात्मनः ॥ १३.९८.१० ॥
He who gives food to a worthy brahmin or to a petitioner lays up for himself the best treasure for the next world.
13.98.11
श्रान्तमध्वनि वर्तन्तं वृद्धमर्हमुपस्थितम् ।
अर्ययेद्भूतिमन्विच्छन्गृहस्थो गृहमागतम् ॥ १३.९८.११ ॥
A householder who desires his own prosperity should honor the guest who has come to his house: one weary on the road, travelling, elderly and worthy of honor.
13.98.12
क्रोधमुत्पतितं हित्वा सुशीलो वीतमत्सरः ।
अन्नदः प्राप्नुते राजन्दिवि चेह च यत्सुखम् ॥ १३.९८.१२ ॥
He who, abandoning anger when it arises, is of good conduct and free from envy, and who gives food, O king, obtains the happiness that exists in heaven and here as well.
13.98.13
नावमन्येदभिगतं न प्रणुद्यात्कदाचन ।
अपि श्वपाके शुनि वा नान्नदानं प्रणश्यति ॥ १३.९८.१३ ॥
One should not despise a guest who has arrived, nor ever drive him away. Even a gift of food given in a outcaste's dwelling or to a dog is not lost.
13.98.14
यो दद्यादपरिक्लिष्टमन्नमध्वनि वर्तते ।
आर्तायादृष्टपूर्वाय स महद्धर्ममाप्नुयात् ॥ १३.९८.१४ ॥
He who gives food freely to a distressed person who is on the road and whom he has never seen before obtains great merit.
13.98.15
पितॄन्देवानृपीन्विप्रानतिथींश्च जनाधिप ।
यो नरः प्रीणयत्यन्नैस्तस्य पुण्यफलं महत् ॥ १३.९८.१५ ॥
O lord of men, the man who pleases the ancestors, the gods, the sages, the Brahmins and the guests with food obtains a great fruit of merit.
13.98.16
कृत्वाऽतिपातकं कर्म यो दद्यादन्नमर्थिने ।
ब्राह्मणाय विशेषेण न स पापेन मुह्यते ॥ १३.९८.१६ ॥
He who, though having committed a grave sin, gives food to a supplicant, especially to a Brahmin, is not deluded by sin.
13.98.17
ब्राह्मणेष्वक्षयं दानमन्नं शूद्रे महाफलम् ।
अन्नदानं हि शूद्रे च ब्राह्मणे च विशिष्यते ॥ १३.९८.१७ ॥
A gift to Brahmins is imperishable, and food given to a Śūdra yields a great fruit. Indeed, the gift of food is distinguished both when given to a Śūdra and when given to a Brahmin.
13.98.18
न पृच्छेद्गोत्रचरणं स्वाध्यायं देशमेव च ।
भिक्षितो ब्राह्मणेनान्नं दद्यादेवाविचारतः ॥ १३.९८.१८ ॥
One should not ask about lineage, branch of the Veda, study, or native place. When a Brahmin asks for alms, one should give food without deliberation.
13.98.19
अन्नदस्यान्नदा वृक्षाः सर्वकामफलप्रदाः ।
भवन्ति चेह चामुत्र नृपते नात्र संशयः ॥ १३.९८.१९ ॥
For the giver of food, there are trees that give food, granting the fruits of all desires. O king, both here and in the next world, there is no doubt of this.
13.98.20
आशंसन्ते हि पितरः सुवृष्टिमिव कर्षकाः ।
अस्माकमपि पुत्रो वा पौत्रो वाऽन्नं प्रदास्यति ॥ १३.९८.२० ॥
Just as farmers hope for good rain, the ancestors hope: 'Our son or grandson will also give food.'
13.98.21
ब्राह्मणो हि महद्भूतं स्वयं देहीति याचते ।
अकामो वा सकामो वा दत्त्वा पुण्यमवाप्नुयात् ॥ १३.९८.२१ ॥
A brahmin is a great being who begs, saying 'give me.' Whether without desire or with desire, having given, one obtains merit.
13.98.22
ब्राह्मणः सर्वभूतानामतिथिः प्रसृताग्रभुक् ।
विप्रा यदधिगच्छन्ति भिक्षमाणा गृहं सदा ॥ १३.९८.२२ ॥
The brahmin is the guest of all beings, the one who eats first. Brahmins, begging, always approach a house.
13.98.23
सत्कताश्च निवर्तन्ते तदतीव प्रवर्धते ।
महाभागे कुले प्रेत्य जन्म चाप्नोति भारत ॥ १३.९८.२३ ॥
Even if they turn back after being honored, that merit grows exceedingly. O Bhārata, after death he obtains birth in a highly fortunate family.
13.98.24
दत्त्वा त्वन्नं नरो लोके तथा स्थानमनुत्तमम् ।
स्विष्टमृष्टान्नदायी तु स्वर्गे वसति सत्कृतः ॥ १३.९८.२४ ॥
A man who gives food in the world obtains a supreme place likewise. The giver of well-prepared, excellent food, honored, dwells in heaven.
13.98.25
अन्नं प्राणा नराणां हि सर्वमन्ने प्रतिष्ठिम् ।
अन्नदः पशुमान्पुत्री धनवान्भोगवानपि ॥ १३.९८.२५ ॥
Food is the life of men, and all things are founded in food. The giver of food becomes rich in cattle, sons, wealth, and enjoyments.
13.98.26
प्राणवांश्चापि भवति रूपवांश्च तथा नृप ।
अन्नदः प्राणदो लोके सर्वदः प्रोच्यते तु सः ॥ १३.९८.२६ ॥
O king, the giver of food becomes full of vital breath and beautiful as well. In the world he is called the giver of life, and he is said to be the giver of all.
13.98.27
अन्नं हि दत्त्वाऽतिथये ब्राह्मणाय यथाविधि ।
प्रदाता सुखमाप्नोति दैवतैश्चापि पूज्यते ॥ १३.९८.२७ ॥
Having duly given food to a guest and to a brahmin, the giver obtains happiness and is honored even by the gods.
13.98.28
ब्राह्मणो हि महद्भूतं क्षेत्रभूतं युधिष्ठिर ।
उप्यते तत्रि यद्बीजं तद्धि पुण्यफलं महत् ॥ १३.९८.२८ ॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, the brahmin is a great being and like a field. The seed sown there bears a great fruit of merit.
13.98.29
प्रत्यक्षं प्रीतिजननं भोक्तुर्दातुर्भवत्युत ।
सर्वाण्यन्यानि दानानि परोक्षफलवन्त्युत ॥ १३.९८.२९ ॥
This gift of food is visible: it brings joy both to the eater and to the giver. All other gifts bear unseen fruit.
13.98.30
अन्नाद्धि प्रसवं यान्ति रतिरन्नाद्धि भारत ।
धर्मार्थावन्नतो विद्धि रोगनाशं तथाऽन्नतः ॥ १३.९८.३० ॥
From food, O Bhārata, offspring arise, and from food comes delight. Know that dharma and wealth come from food, and from food too the destruction of disease.
13.98.31
अन्नं ह्यमृतमित्याह पुरा कल्पे प्रजापतिः। ॥ १३.९८.३१ ॥
In the old days, at the beginning of the cosmic age, Prajāpati declared that food is indeed nectar.
13.98.32
अन्नप्रणाशे भिद्यन्ते शरीरे पञ्च धातवः ।
बलं बलवतोपीह प्रणश्यत्यन्नहानितः ॥ १३.९८.३२ ॥
When food perishes, the five bodily constituents are broken apart in the body; even the strength of the strong perishes here through lack of food.
13.98.33
आवाहाश्च विवाहाश्च यज्ञाश्चान्नमृते तथा ।
निवर्तन्ते नरश्रेष्ठ ब्रह्म चात्र प्रलीयते ॥ १३.९८.३३ ॥
O best of men, without food the bridal processions, weddings and sacrifices all cease, and here the sacred knowledge of Brahman dissolves away.
13.98.34
अन्नतः सर्वमेतद्धि यत्किञ्चित्स्थाणु जङ्गमम् ।
त्रिषु लोकेषु धर्मार्थमन्नं देयमतो बुधैः ॥ १३.९८.३४ ॥
All this, whatever is immovable or movable in the three worlds, comes from food. Therefore the wise should give food for the sake of dharma.
13.98.35
अन्नदस्य मनुष्यस्य बलमोजो यशांसि च ।
कीर्तिश्च वर्धते शश्वत्त्रिषु लोकेषु पार्थिव ॥ १३.९८.३५ ॥
O king, the strength, vigour, glories and fame of the man who gives food grow constantly in the three worlds.
13.98.36
मेघेषूर्ध्वं सन्निधत्ते प्राणानां पवनः पतिः ।
तच्च मेघगतं वारि शक्रो वर्षति भारत ॥ १३.९८.३६ ॥
Above the clouds, the wind, lord of the life-breaths, places them; and that water held in the clouds, O Bhārata, Indra pours down as rain.
13.98.37
आदत्ते च रसान्भौनानादित्यः स्वगभस्तिभिः ।
वायुरादित्यतस्तांश्च रसान्देवः प्रवर्षति ॥ १३.९८.३७ ॥
The sun draws up the earthly moisture with his own rays, and the wind, receiving those moisture-essences from the sun, the god pours them down as rain.
13.98.38
तद्यदा मेघतो वारि पतितं भवति क्षितौ ।
तदा वसुमती देवी स्निग्धा भवति भारत ॥ १३.९८.३८ ॥
When water from the cloud falls upon the earth, then, O Bhārata, the goddess Vasumatī (the earth) becomes moist and fertile.
13.98.39
ततः सस्यानि रोहन्ति येन वर्तयते जगत् ।
मांसमेदोस्थिशुक्राणां प्रादुर्भावस्ततः पुनः ॥ १३.९८.३९ ॥
Then crops sprout, by which the world is sustained; and from these again arise the appearance of flesh, marrow, bone and seed.
13.98.40
सम्भवन्ति ततः शुक्रात्प्राणिनः पृथिवीपते ।
अग्नीषोमौ हि तच्छुक्रं सृजतः पुष्यतश्च ह ॥ १३.९८.४० ॥
From that seed, O lord of the earth, living beings arise, for Agni and Soma indeed create and nourish that seed.
13.98.41
एवमन्नाद्धि सूर्यश्च पवनः शक्रमेव च ।
एक एव स्मृतो राशिस्ततो भूतानि जज्ञिरे ॥ १३.९८.४१ ॥
Thus from food indeed the sun, the wind and Indra are remembered as one single aggregate; from that the beings were born.
13.98.42
प्राणान्ददाति भूतानां तेजश्च भरतर्षभ ।
गृहमभ्यागतायाथ यो दद्यादन्नमर्थिने ॥ १३.९८.४२ ॥
O bull of the Bharatas, he who gives food gives life-breath and vigor to beings; and he who gives food to a guest who has come to his house, or to a suppliant, obtains the same fruit.
13.98.43
नारदेनैवमुक्तोऽहमन्नदानं सदा नृप ।
अनसूयुस्त्वमप्यन्नं तस्माद्देहि गतज्वरः ॥ १३.९८.४३ ॥
Thus Nārada told me, O king: one should always give food. You too, without envy, give food; therefore, give free from distress.
13.98.44
दत्त्वाऽन्नं विधिवद्राजन्विप्रेभ्यस्त्वमपि प्रभो ।
यथावदनुरूपेभ्यस्ततः स्वर्गमवाप्स्यसि ॥ १३.९८.४४ ॥
Having given food duly, O king, O lord, to brahmins worthy of it, you too shall then attain heaven.
13.98.45
अन्नदानां हि ये लोकास्तांस्त्वं शृणु जनाधिप ।
भवनानि प्रकाशन्ते दिवि तेषां महात्मनाम् ॥ १३.९८.४५ ॥
Hear of the worlds of those who give food, O lord of men: in heaven the mansions of those great souls shine forth.
13.98.46
नानासंस्थानि रूपाणि नानास्तम्भान्वितानि च ।
चन्द्रमण्डलशुभ्राणि किंकिणीजालवन्ति च ॥ १३.९८.४६ ॥
They take many forms and are fitted with many pillars; bright as the disk of the moon, they are hung with networks of tinkling bells.
13.98.47
तरुणादित्यवर्णानि स्थावराणि चराणि च ।
अनेकशतभौमानि सान्तर्जलचराणि च ॥ १३.९८.४७ ॥
Glowing with the colour of the young sun, they are both immovable and movable; they have hundreds of storeys, and within them dwell creatures that move in water.
13.98.48
वैदूर्यार्कप्रकाशानि रौप्यरुक्ममयानि च ।
सर्वकामफलाश्चापि वृक्षा भवनसंस्थिताः ॥ १३.९८.४८ ॥
They shine like lapis lazuli and the sun, made of silver and gold, and around the mansions stand trees that bear the fruit of every desire.
13.98.49
वाप्यो वीथ्यः सभाः कूपा दीर्घिकाश्चैव सर्वशः ।
घोषवन्ति च यानानि युक्तान्यथ सहस्रशः ॥ १३.९८.४९ ॥
Step-wells, streets, assembly halls, wells, and long ponds of every kind, and thousands of yoked, resounding vehicles.
13.98.50
भक्ष्यभोज्यमयाः शैला वासांस्याभरणानि च ।
क्षीरं स्रवन्ति सरितस्तथा चैवान्नपर्वताः ॥ १३.९८.५० ॥
Mountains made of food and drink, garments and ornaments, rivers flowing with milk, and likewise mountains of grain.
13.98.51
प्रासादाः पाण्डुराभ्राभाः शय्याश्च कनकोञ्ज्वलाः ।
तान्यन्नदाः प्रपद्यन्ते तस्मादन्नप्रदो भव ॥ १३.९८.५१ ॥
Palaces gleaming like white clouds and couches bright with gold—these are obtained by those who give food. Therefore be a giver of food.
13.98.52
एते लोकाः पुण्यकृता अन्नदानां महात्मनाम् ।
तस्मादन्नं प्रयत्नेन दातव्यं मानवैर्भुवि ॥ १३.९८.५२ ॥
These worlds belong to the great-souled people who did meritorious deeds and gave food. Therefore people on earth should give food with effort.