Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

न पृच्छेद्‌ गोत्रचरणं स्वाध्यायं देशमेव च । भिक्षितो ब्राह्मणेनेह दद्यादन्न॑ प्रयाचित:

Transliteration

na pṛcched gotracaraṇaṃ svādhyāyaṃ deśam eva ca | bhikṣito brāhmaṇeneha dadyād annaṃ prayācitaḥ ||

Translation

Nārada said: “When a brāhmaṇa comes seeking alms here, one should not question him about his lineage and ritual school, his Vedic study, or even his place of residence. If he asks for food, it should be given at once.”

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• पृच्छेत्: should ask
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्
• Form: Vidhi-linga, injunctive/optative sense, 3, singular, Parasmaipada

• गोत्रम्: clan/lineage
• गोत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोत्र
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• चरणम्: Vedic school (śākhā/tradition)
• चरणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• स्वाध्यायम्: Vedic study/recitation
• स्वाध्यायम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• देशम्: place/country (residence)
• देशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

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

• भिक्षितः: when begged/asked (for alms)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिक्षित
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular, past passive participle (kta) from √भिक्ष्

• ब्राह्मणेन: by a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: masculine, instrumental, singular

• इह: here (in this context/world)
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• दद्यात्: should give
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: Vidhi-linga, optative sense, 3, singular, Parasmaipada

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• प्रयाचितः: when requested/solicited
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रयाचित
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular, past passive participle (kta) from प्र+√याच्

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• brāhmaṇa
• anna (food/alms)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Charity, especially food-giving to a brāhmaṇa who asks, should be prompt and unconditional—one should not demand proofs of lineage, Vedic affiliation, learning, or residence before giving.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada delivers a dharma-instruction within Anuśāsana Parva, prescribing the proper conduct of a householder toward a brāhmaṇa supplicant: do not interrogate; provide food immediately when requested.