Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच श्रुतं दानफलं तात यत्त्वया परिकीर्तितम् अन्नं तु ते विशेषेण प्रशस्तमिह भारत
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said I have heard, O sire, of the merits of the different kinds of gift which you have described to me. I understand, O Bharata, that the gift of food is especially praiseworthy and superior.
पानीयदानं परमं कथं चेह महाफलम् इत्येतच्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि विस्तरेण पितामह
M. N. Dutt: What, however, are the great merits of making gifts of drink. I wish to hear of this in full, O grandfather.
भीष्म उवाच हन्त ते वर्तयिष्यामि यथावद्भरतर्षभ गदतस्तन्ममाद्येह शृणु सत्यपराक्रम पानीयदानात्प्रभृति सर्वं वक्ष्यामि तेऽनघ
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said I shall, O chief of Bharata's race. relate to you this subject. Listen to ine, O you of unbaffled prowess, as I speak to you.
यदन्नं यच्च पानीयं संप्रदायाश्नुते नरः न तस्मात्परमं दानं किंचिदस्तीति मे मतिः
AI Translation: Whatever food and water one gives to others, one enjoys. I think there is no greater gift than this.
अन्नात्प्राणभृतस्तात प्रवर्तन्ते हि सर्वशः तस्मादन्नं परं लोके सर्वदानेषु कथ्यते
AI Translation: From food, O son, all beings that sustain life proceed. Therefore, food is said to be supreme among all gifts in the world.
अन्नाद्बलं च तेजश्च प्राणिनां वर्धते सदा अन्नदानमतस्तस्माच्छ्रेष्ठमाह प्रजापतिः
AI Translation: From food, strength and energy of living beings always increase. Therefore, Prajapati said that giving food is the best.
सावित्र्या ह्यपि कौन्तेय श्रुतं ते वचनं शुभम् यतश्चैतद्यथा चैतद्देवसत्रे महामते
AI Translation: O son of Kunti, you have heard the auspicious words of Savitri. And from where and how this happened at the great sacrifice of the gods, O wise one,
अन्ने दत्ते नरेणेह प्राणा दत्ता भवन्त्युत प्राणदानाद्धि परमं न दानमिह विद्यते
AI Translation: When food is given, life is given to men here. For there is no greater gift than the gift of life.
श्रुतं हि ते महाबाहो लोमशस्यापि तद्वचः प्राणान्दत्त्वा कपोताय यत्प्राप्तं शिबिना पुरा
AI Translation: You have heard, O mighty-armed one, the words of Lomaśa, And what was attained by Śibi in the past, when he gave his life to the pigeon.
तां गतिं लभते दत्त्वा द्विजस्यान्नं विशां पते गतिं विशिष्टां गच्छन्ति प्राणदा इति नः श्रुतम्
AI Translation: O Lord of the people, by giving food to a brahmin one attains that state. We have heard that those who give life attain a superior state.
अन्नं चापि प्रभवति पानीयात्कुरुसत्तम नीरजातेन हि विना न किंचित्संप्रवर्तते
AI Translation: O best of the Kuru lineage, food is produced from water. For without water, nothing can function.
नीरजातश्च भगवान्सोमो ग्रहगणेश्वरः अमृतं च सुधा चैव स्वाहा चैव वषट्तथा
AI Translation: The lotus-born Lord, the Moon, the lord of the group of planets, Amṛta, Sudhā, Svāhā, and Vaṣaṭ.
अन्नौषध्यो महाराज वीरुधश्च जलोद्भवाः यतः प्राणभृतां प्राणाः संभवन्ति विशां पते
AI Translation: O great king, the food, herbs, and plants that grow in water, From which the lives of living beings arise, O lord of the people,
देवानाममृतं चान्नं नागानां च सुधा तथा पितॄणां च स्वधा प्रोक्ता पशूनां चापि वीरुधः
AI Translation: The nectar of the gods, the ambrosia of the serpents, And the oblations of the ancestors are said to be the herbs of the animals.
अन्नमेव मनुष्याणां प्राणानाहुर्मनीषिणः तच्च सर्वं नरव्याघ्र पानीयात्संप्रवर्तते
AI Translation: The wise say that food is the breath of life for men. And all that comes from water, O tiger among men.
तस्मात्पानीयदानाद्वै न परं विद्यते क्वचित् तच्च दद्यान्नरो नित्यं य इच्छेद्भूतिमात्मनः
AI Translation: Therefore, there is nothing greater than giving water anywhere. And one who desires prosperity for himself should always give that.
धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं जलदानं विशां पते शत्रूंश्चाप्यधि कौन्तेय सदा तिष्ठति तोयदः
AI Translation: O lord of the earth, the gift of water is auspicious, glorious, and life-giving. O son of Kunti, the giver of water always stands above his enemies.
सर्वकामानवाप्नोति कीर्तिं चैवेह शाश्वतीम् प्रेत्य चानन्त्यमाप्नोति पापेभ्यश्च प्रमुच्यते
AI Translation: He obtains all desires and eternal fame in this world, and after death he attains infinity and is freed from sins.
तोयदो मनुजव्याघ्र स्वर्गं गत्वा महाद्युते अक्षयान्समवाप्नोति लोकानित्यब्रवीन्मनुः
M. N. Dutt: The giver, O king, becomes purged of every sin and obtains unending happiness hereafter as he proceeds to the celestial region. O you of great splendour. Manu himself has said that such a person acquires regions of endless bliss in the other world.