Shloka 2
अन्नदान-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Gift of Food) | Annadāna-Praśaṃsā
कौतूहलं हि परम तत्र मे विद्यते प्रभो । दातारं दत्तमन्वेति यद् दान॑ तत् प्रचक्ष्व मे,प्रभो! इस विषयमें मुझे महान् कौतूहल हो रहा है; अतः जिस दानका पुण्य दाताका अनुसरण करता हो, वह मुझे बताइये
kautūhalaṃ hi paramaṃ tatra me vidyate prabho | dātāraṃ dattam anveti yad dānaṃ tat pracakṣva me prabho ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “O lord, a very great curiosity has arisen in me about this. Please tell me: what kind of gift is it whose merit follows the giver—so that the giver is accompanied by the fruit of what has been given?”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical inquiry into dāna: Yudhiṣṭhira asks which kind of giving yields enduring merit that ‘follows’ the donor, emphasizing intention, right recipient, and dharmic context as central to the value of charity.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Yudhiṣṭhira respectfully questions his teacher about the nature of gifts and their karmic results, seeking clarity on what form of charity produces merit that accompanies the giver.