Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 15

Pānīya-dāna and Anna-dāna: The Primacy of Life-Sustaining Gifts (पानीयदान-प्रशंसा / अन्नदान-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

पितृन्‌ देवानृषीन्‌ विप्रानतिथींश्व॒ जनाधिप । यो नर: प्रीणयत्यन्नैस्तस्य पुण्यफलं महत्‌

Transliteration

pitṝn devān ṛṣīn viprān atithīṁś ca janādhipa | yo naraḥ prīṇayaty annais tasya puṇyaphalaṁ mahat ||

Translation

Nārada said: “O lord of men, the merit gained is great for that person who, by offering food, gladdens and satisfies the Pitṛs (ancestors), the gods, the Ṛṣis, the brāhmaṇas, and guests.”

Word by Word

• पितॄन्: the fathers/manes (pitṛs)
• पितॄन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• ऋषीन्: the sages
• ऋषीन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विप्रान्: the brāhmaṇas
• विप्रान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अतिथीन्: the guests
• अतिथीन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• जनाधिप: O lord of people (king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनाधिप
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रीणयति: pleases/satisfies
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रीणय् (प्री + णिच्)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अन्नैः: with food
• अन्नैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• तस्य: of him/for him
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• पुण्यफलम्: merit-fruit, reward of virtue
• पुण्यफलम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्यफल
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• महत्: great
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• नरेश्वर: O lord of men (king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरेश्वर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Devas (gods)
• Ṛṣis (seers)
• Vipras (brāhmaṇas)
• Atithis (guests)
• Janādhipa (king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Offering food as a dharmic act—supporting ancestors, gods (through offerings), sages, brāhmaṇas, and guests—produces great merit. The verse elevates anna-dāna and hospitality as central ethical duties for householders and rulers alike.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada addresses a king (janādhipa), instructing him on righteous conduct. In this section of Anuśāsana Parva, the discourse emphasizes practical dharma: sustaining sacred and social relationships through food-giving and respectful hospitality.