Adhyaya 70

Verse 1

(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका $ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ६५६ “लोक हैं) सप्तषष्टितमो< ध्याय: अन्न और जलके दानकी महिमा युधिछिर उवाच श्रुतं दानफलं तात यत्‌ त्वया परिकीर्तितम्‌ | अन्नदानं विशेषेण प्रशस्तमिह भारत,युधिष्ठिरने पूछा--तात! भरतनन्दन! आपने जो दानोंका फल बताया है, उसे मैंने सुन लिया। यहाँ अन्नदानकी विशेषरूपसे प्रशंसा की गयी है

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Dear one, I have heard the fruits of charity as you have described them. Yet here, O Bhārata, the gift of food is praised as especially excellent.”

Verse 2

पानीयदानमेवैतत्‌ कथं चेह महाफलम्‌ । इत्येतच्छोतुमिच्छामि विस्तरेण पितामह,पितामह! अब जलदान करनेसे कैसे महान्‌ फलकी प्राप्ति होती है, इस विषयको मैं विस्तारके साथ सुनना चाहता हूँ

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “This is indeed the gift of drinking-water; but how does it yield such great merit here? Grandfather—O Grandfather— I wish to hear this in detail.”

Verse 3

भीष्म उवाच हन्त ते वर्तयिष्यामि यथावद्‌ भरतर्षभ । गदतस्तन्ममाद्येह शृणु सत्यपराक्रम,भीष्मजी कहते हैं--सत्यपराक्रमी भरतश्रेष्ठ! मैं तुम्हें सब कुछ यथार्थ रूपसे बताऊँगा। तुम आज यहाँ मेरे मुँहसे इन सब बातोंको सुनो

Bhishma said: “Come then—O bull among the Bharatas, I shall relate everything to you exactly as it is. Listen today, here, from my own words as I speak, O you whose valor is grounded in truth.”

Verse 4

पानीयदानात्‌ प्रभृति सर्व वक्ष्यामि तेडनघ । यदन्नं यच्च पानीयं सम्प्रदायाश्षुते नर:,अनघ! जलदानसे लेकर सब प्रकारके दानोंका फल मैं तुम्हें बताऊँगा। मनुष्य अन्न और जलका दान करके जिस फलको पाता है, वह सुनो

Bhishma said: “O sinless one, beginning with the gift of water, I shall tell you the fruits of every kind of charity. Hear what reward a man attains by giving food and by giving water.”

Verse 5

न तस्मात्‌ परम॑ दानं किंचिदस्तीति मे मन: । अन्नात्‌ प्राणभृतस्तात प्रवर्तन्ते हि सर्वश:,तात! मेरे मनमें यह धारणा है कि अन्न और जलके दानसे बढ़कर दूसरा कोई दान नहीं है; क्योंकि अन्नसे ही सब प्राणी उत्पन्न होते और जीवन धारण करते हैं

Bhishma said: “Therefore, in my judgment, there is no gift higher than this. For, dear one, all living beings who sustain life proceed and thrive because of food.”

Verse 6

तस्मादन्नं परं लोके सर्वलोकेषु कथ्यते । अन्नाद्‌ बल॑ च तेजश्न प्राणिनां वर्धते सदा

Bhīṣma said: “Therefore, food is declared to be the highest in this world—indeed in all worlds. From food, the strength and the vital radiance of living beings always increase. In the ethical frame of dharma, this elevates feeding and sustaining others as a foremost duty, since life, vigor, and capacity for righteous action depend upon nourishment.”

Verse 7

सावित्र्या हपि कौन्तेय श्रुतं ते वचनं शुभम्‌

Bhīṣma said: “O son of Kuntī, I have heard your auspicious words—those concerning Sāvitrī as well.”

Verse 8

अन्ने दत्ते नरेणेह प्राणा दत्ता भवन्त्युत,“जिस मनुष्यने यहाँ किसीको अन्न दिया है, उसने मानो प्राण दे दिये और प्राणदानसे बढ़कर इस संसारमें दूसरा कोई दान नहीं है।' महाबाहो! इस विषयमें तुमने लोमशका भी वह वचन सुना ही है

Bhishma said: “In this world, when a person gives food, it is as though he has given life itself; for there is no gift greater than the gift of life. O mighty-armed one, you have surely heard in this connection the statement spoken by Lomasha as well.”

Verse 9

प्राणदानाद्धि परमं न दानमिह विद्यते । श्रुतं हि ते महाबाहो लोमशस्यापि तद्धबच:,“जिस मनुष्यने यहाँ किसीको अन्न दिया है, उसने मानो प्राण दे दिये और प्राणदानसे बढ़कर इस संसारमें दूसरा कोई दान नहीं है।' महाबाहो! इस विषयमें तुमने लोमशका भी वह वचन सुना ही है

Bhishma said: “Indeed, in this world no gift is higher than the gift of life. For when one gives food to another, it is as though one has given that person their very breath. O mighty-armed one, you have also heard this very saying from the sage Lomaśa.”

Verse 10

प्राणान्‌ दत्त्वा कपोताय यत्‌ प्राप्ते शिबिना पुरा । तां गतिं लभते दत्त्वा द्विजस्यान्नं विशाम्पते,प्रजानाथ! पूर्वकालमें राजा शिबिने कबूतरके लिये प्राणदान देकर जो उत्तम गति प्राप्त की थी, ब्राह्मणको अन्न देकर दाता उसी गतिको प्राप्त कर लेता है

Bhishma said: “In ancient times King Śibi attained a supreme destiny by offering up his very life for the sake of a dove. In the same way, O lord of the people and protector of subjects, one who gives food to a brāhmaṇa attains that very destiny.”

Verse 11

तस्माद्‌ विशिष्टां गच्छन्ति प्राणदा इति नःश्रुतम्‌ । अन्न वापि प्रभवति पानीयात्‌ कुरुसत्तम । नीरजातेन हि विना न किंचित्‌ सम्प्रवर्तते,कुरुश्रेष्ठ! अतः प्राणदान करनेवाले पुरुष श्रेष्ठ गतिको प्राप्त होते हैं--ऐसा हमने सुना है। किंतु अन्न भी जलसे ही पैदा होता है। जलराशिसे उत्पन्न हुए धान्यके बिना कुछ भी नहीं हो सकता

Bhishma said: “Therefore, we have heard that those who bestow life attain an exceptional state. Yet even food arises from water, O best of the Kurus. Indeed, without grain born of water, nothing at all can proceed, O foremost of the Kurus.”

Verse 12

नीरजातश्न भगवान्‌ सोमो ग्रहगणेश्वर: । अमृतं च सुधा चैव स्वाहा चैव स्वधा तथा,महाराज! ग्रहोंके अधिपति भगवान्‌ सोम जलसे ही प्रकट हुए हैं। प्रजानाथ! अमृत, सुधा, स्वाहा, स्वधा, अन्न, ओषधि, तृण और लताएँ भी जलसे उत्पन्न हुई हैं, जिनसे समस्त प्राणियोंके प्राण प्रकट एवं पुष्ट होते हैं

Bhishma said: “The venerable Soma—lord among the hosts of planets—was born from water. From water also arise ambrosia and nectar, and the sacred utterances svāhā and svadhā. Thus water is praised as the primordial source that sustains ritual order and nourishes life.”

Verse 13

अन्नौषध्यो महाराज वीरुधश्चव॒ जलोदभवा: । यतः प्राणभृतां प्राणा: सम्भवन्ति विशाम्पते,महाराज! ग्रहोंके अधिपति भगवान्‌ सोम जलसे ही प्रकट हुए हैं। प्रजानाथ! अमृत, सुधा, स्वाहा, स्वधा, अन्न, ओषधि, तृण और लताएँ भी जलसे उत्पन्न हुई हैं, जिनसे समस्त प्राणियोंके प्राण प्रकट एवं पुष्ट होते हैं

Bhīṣma said: “O great king, food and medicinal herbs, and also grasses and creepers, arise from water; for from these the very life-breath of living beings comes forth and is sustained, O lord of the people. Indeed, Soma—the lord among the celestial powers—manifested from water. Nectar (amṛta), ambrosia (sudhā), the sacrificial offerings ‘svāhā’ and ‘svadhā’, as well as food, herbs, grass, and vines are born of water; through them the lives of all creatures arise and are nourished.”

Verse 14

देवानाममृतं हान्न॑ं नागानां च सुधा तथा । पितृणां च स्वधा प्रोक्ता पशूनां चापि वीरुध:,देवताओंका अन्न अमृत, नागोंका अन्न सुधा, पितरोंका अन्न स्वधा और पशुओंका अन्न तृण-लता आदि है

Bhishma said: “For the gods, the proper ‘food’ is ambrosia; for the nāgas, it is nectar-like sudhā; for the ancestors, it is the offering called svadhā; and for animals, it is grasses and plants.”

Verse 15

अन्नमेव मनुष्याणां प्राणानाहुर्मनीषिण: । तच्च सर्व नरव्यात्र पानीयात्‌ सम्प्रवर्तते

Bhīṣma said: “The wise declare that food itself is the very life-breath of human beings. And all of that—this entire sustenance of people—ultimately proceeds from water.”

Verse 16

तच्च दद्यान्नरो नित्यं यदीच्छेद्‌ भूतिमात्मन:,जो मनुष्य अपना कल्याण चाहता है, उसे प्रतेदिन जलदान करना चाहिये। जलदान इस जगत्‌में धन, यश और आयुकी वृद्धि करनेवाला बताया जाता है। कुन्तीनन्दन! जलदान करनेवाला पुरुष सदा अपने शत्रुओंसे भी ऊपर रहता है

Bhishma said: “A man who seeks his own welfare should give water in charity every day. The gift of water is declared to increase prosperity, fame, and length of life in this world. O son of Kunti, one who gives water remains ever superior even to his enemies.”

Verse 17

धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं जलदानमिहोच्यते । शत्रृंक्षाप्पधि कौन्तेय सदा तिष्ठति तोयद:,जो मनुष्य अपना कल्याण चाहता है, उसे प्रतेदिन जलदान करना चाहिये। जलदान इस जगत्‌में धन, यश और आयुकी वृद्धि करनेवाला बताया जाता है। कुन्तीनन्दन! जलदान करनेवाला पुरुष सदा अपने शत्रुओंसे भी ऊपर रहता है

Bhishma said: “In this world, the gift of water is declared to be auspicious, fame-bestowing, and life-prolonging. O son of Kunti, the giver of water ever stands above (and beyond the reach of) his enemies—protected by the merit of that simple, sustaining charity.”

Verse 18

सर्वकामानवाप्रोति कीर्ति चैव हि शाश्वतीम्‌ । प्रेत्य चानन्त्यमश्नाति पापेभ्यश्व प्रमुच्यते

Bhīṣma said: “He attains the fulfillment of all rightful desires and also wins enduring fame. After death, he enjoys unending blessedness, and he is released from sins.”

Verse 19

वह इस जगत्‌में सम्पूर्ण कामनाओं तथा अक्षय कीर्तिको प्राप्त करता है और सम्पूर्ण पापोंसे मुक्त हो जाता है। मृत्युके पश्चात्‌ वह अक्षय सुखका भागी होता है ।। तोयदो मनुजव्याघ्र स्वर्ग गत्वा महाद्युते । अक्षयान्‌ समवाप्नोति लोकानित्यब्रवीन्मनु:,महातेजस्वी पुरुषसिंह! जलदान करनेवाला पुरुष स्वर्गमें जाकर वहाँके अक्षय लोकोंपर अधिकार प्राप्त करता है--ऐसा मनुने कहा है

Bhishma said: “In this world, the giver of water attains the fulfillment of all rightful desires and wins imperishable fame; he is also freed from all sins. After death, he becomes a sharer in unending happiness. O tiger among men, O greatly radiant one—Manu has declared that a person who gives water goes to heaven and there obtains dominion over imperishable worlds.”

Verse 66

इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत अनुशासनपर्वके अन्तर्गत दानधर्मपर्वमें छाछठवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ

Thus ends the sixty-sixth chapter within the Dāna-dharma section of the Anuśāsana Parva of the revered Mahābhārata. The discourse concludes here, marking the completion of this unit of instruction on the ethics of giving and righteous conduct.

Verse 67

इति श्रीमहाभारते अनुशासनपर्वणि दानधर्मपर्वणि पानीयदानमाहात्म्ये सप्तषष्टितमो5ध्याय:

Thus, in the Śrī Mahābhārata, within the Anuśāsana Parva—specifically in the section on the Dharma of gifts—ends the sixty-seventh chapter, which expounds the greatness of donating drinking water. This serves as a formal colophon marking the close of a teaching on the ethical and religious merit of providing water as charity.

Verse 76

यतश्न यद्‌ यथा चैव देवसत्रे महामते । कुन्तीनन्दन! तुमने सावित्रीके शुभ वचनको भी सुना है। महामते देवताओंके यज्ञमें जिस हेतुसे और जिस प्रकार जो वचन सावित्रीने कहा था, वह इस प्रकार है--

Bhishma said: “O wise son of Kunti, you have also heard the auspicious words spoken by Savitri. In the great sacrificial session of the gods, for what purpose and in what manner she spoke those words—O noble-minded one—this is how it was.”

Verse 156

तस्मात्‌ पानीयदानाद्‌ वै न परं विद्यते क्वचित्‌ । मनीषी पुरुषोंने अन्नको ही मनुष्योंका प्राण बताया है। पुरुषसिंह! सब प्रकारका अन्न (खाद्य पदार्थ) जलसे ही उत्पन्न होता है; अत: जलदानसे बढ़कर दूसरा कोई दान कहीं नहीं है

Bhishma declares that no gift surpasses the gift of water. The wise have taught that food itself is the very life of human beings; and since every kind of food arises from water, O best of men, there is no charity greater anywhere than giving water. In this ethical instruction, Bhishma elevates water-donation as a foundational act of dharma because it sustains life at its root.

Verse 616

अन्नदानमतस्तस्माच्छेष्ठमाह प्रजापति: । इसलिये लोकमें तथा सम्पूर्ण मनुष्योंमें अन्नको ही सबसे उत्तम बताया गया है। अन्नसे ही सदा प्राणियोंके तेज और बलकी वृद्धि होती है; अतः प्रजापतिने अन्नके दानको ही सर्वश्रेष्ठ बतलाया है

Bhishma said: Therefore, Prajapati has declared the gift of food to be the highest. In this world and among all people, food is praised as supreme, for from food the vitality, radiance, and strength of living beings continually increase; hence Prajapati proclaims food-giving as the foremost charity.