Shloka 24
Pānīya-dāna and Anna-dāna: The Primacy of Life-Sustaining Gifts (पानीयदान-प्रशंसा / अन्नदान-प्रशंसा)
भारत! ब्राह्मण सब मनुष्योंका अतिथि और सबसे पहले भोजन पानेका अधिकारी है। ब्राह्मण जिस घरपर सदा भिक्षा माँगनेके लिये जाते हैं और वहाँसे सत्कार पाकर लौटते हैं, उस घरकी सम्पत्ति अधिक बढ़ जाती है तथा उस घरका मालिक मरनेके बाद महान् सौभाग्यशाली कुलमें जन्म पाता है ।।
bhārata! brāhmaṇaḥ sarvamanusyāṇām atithiḥ prathamaṃ bhojanaprāptum adhikārī ca. brāhmaṇā ye gṛhān nityaṃ bhikṣārthaṃ gacchanti, yatra te satkāraṃ labdhvā nivartante, tasya gṛhasya sampad adhikatarā bhavati; gṛhapatiś ca mṛtyor anantaram mahāsau bhāgyavatsu kuleṣu jāyate. dattva tv annaṃ naro loke tathā sthānam anuttamam | nityaṃ miṣṭānna-dāyī tu svarge vasati satkṛtaḥ ||
Nārada said: “O Bhārata, the brāhmaṇa is to be regarded as the foremost guest among people and is entitled to be served first. A house to which brāhmaṇas regularly come seeking alms, and from which they depart after being honored, grows in prosperity; and the master of that house, after death, is born into a highly fortunate lineage. Moreover, one who in this world gives food, offers an excellent seat or place of honor, and regularly donates sweet and choice dishes, dwells in heaven, respected by the gods.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Hospitality and charity—especially offering food, a seat of honor, and respectful reception to brāhmaṇas/guests—are presented as key householder duties that increase prosperity in this life and lead to honored residence in heaven after death.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s dharma instruction, Nārada addresses Yudhiṣṭhira (Bhārata) and teaches the ethical value of welcoming brāhmaṇas who come for alms, describing both worldly benefits (growth of household wealth) and posthumous rewards (fortunate rebirth and heaven).