अध्याय १: महाप्रस्थानारम्भः
The Commencement of the Great Departure
अभोजयत् स्वादु भोज्यं कीर्तयित्वा च शार्द्धिणम् । ददौ रत्नानि वासांसि ग्रामानश्चान् रथांस्तथा
abhojayat svādu bhojyaṁ kīrtayitvā ca śārddhiṇam | dadau ratnāni vāsāṁsi grāmāṁś cān rathāṁs tathā ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Nachdem er den würdigen Empfänger gepriesen hatte, speiste er ihn mit köstlicher Speise. Dann schenkte er Juwelen und Gewänder und verlieh zudem Dörfer und Wagen.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse underscores dharmic generosity: honoring a deserving person through respectful praise, hospitality (feeding), and material gifts. Ethical giving is portrayed as deliberate, public recognition of merit rather than mere display of wealth.
The narrator describes a scene of formal honoring: the recipient is first extolled, then served a fine meal, and finally rewarded with valuable gifts—jewels, clothing, and even substantial grants like villages and chariots.