Shloka 1
अन्नदानफलं (Anna-dāna-phala) / The Fruit of Food-Giving
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पावका ई “लोक मिलाकर कुल २१३ “लोक हैं) भीस्न्आ+ज (2) आसन मना नवाधिकशततमो<्ध्याय: प्रत्येक मासकी द्वादशशी तिथिको उपवास और भगवान् विष्णुकी पूजा करनेका विशेष माहात्म्य युधिछिर उवाच सर्वेषामुपवासानां यच्छेय: सुमहत्फलम् । यच्चाप्यसंशयं लोके तनमे त्वं वक्तुमहसि
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: Sarveṣām upavāsānāṁ yac chreyaḥ sumahat phalam | yac cāpy asaṁśayaṁ loke tan me tvaṁ vaktum arhasi ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Grandfather, among all forms of fasting, tell me which is the best and yields the greatest fruit—and which is regarded in the world as beyond doubt. Please explain that to me.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharmic inquiry: among many religious observances, one should seek the practice that is both supremely beneficial (śreyaḥ, sumahat phalam) and socially/śāstrically uncontested (asaṁśayam). It highlights discernment in choosing vows, not mere ritual variety.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-setting, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Bhīṣma as ‘pitāmaha’ and asks him to identify the most excellent and doubt-free form of fasting, preparing the ground for Bhīṣma’s subsequent exposition on a specific vrata/upavāsa and its merit.