Shloka 3

अन्नदान-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Gift of Food) | Annadāna-Praśaṃsā

Devanagari script

भीष्म उवाच अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो व्यसने चाप्यनुग्रह: । यच्चाभिलषितं दद्यात्‌ तृषितायाभियाचते

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca: abhayaṁ sarvabhūtebhyo vyasane cāpy anugrahaḥ | yac cābhilaṣitaṁ dadyāt tṛṣitāyābhiyācate ||

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: Man soll allen Wesen Furchtlosigkeit gewähren und selbst in Zeiten der Not Güte erweisen. Und wenn ein Durstiger bittend herantritt, soll man ihm, nach eigenem Vermögen, das Gewünschte geben, damit die Not des Bittenden wahrhaft gelindert werde.

Word by Word

भीष्मःBhishma

उवाचsaid

अभयम्fearlessness, safety

सर्वभूतेभ्यःto all beings

व्यसनेin calamity, in distress

चand

अपिalso, even

अनुग्रहःfavor, kindness, assistance

यत्whatever (that which)

चand

अभिलषितम्desired, wished-for

दद्यात्should give

तृषितायto one who is thirsty

अभियाचतेwho begs/requests (earnestly)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is expressed through active benevolence: provide safety and non-threat (abhaya) to all beings, remain compassionate even amid hardship, and practice meaningful charity by giving in a way that genuinely meets the petitioner’s need.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction on righteous conduct (dharma), he lists practical virtues—assuring others of safety, showing compassion during adversity, and giving to those who beg (especially the thirsty), emphasizing concrete, need-based generosity.