Shloka 42
The Glory of Charity: Land-Gifts, Śālagrāma Donation, and Food–Water as Supreme Gifts
अन्नदो यो नरो विप्र प्राणदश्च प्रकीर्त्तितः । तस्मात्समस्तदानानामन्नदो लभते फलम्
annado yo naro vipra prāṇadaśca prakīrttitaḥ | tasmātsamastadānānāmannado labhate phalam
Oh brāhmaṇa, el hombre que da alimento es proclamado también dador de vida. Por ello, el dador de alimento obtiene el mérito de todas las formas de caridad.
Unspecified (context-dependent narrator within Brahma-khaṇḍa discourse)
Concept: To give food is to give life; hence its fruit equals the aggregate merit of all charities.
Application: Make anna-dāna a regular vow: sponsor meals, feed students/elderly, offer prasāda, and ensure no guest leaves hungry; treat it as ‘prāṇa-sevā’.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A public anna-kṣetra near a temple gate: volunteers ladle khichdi into bowls while a line of pilgrims, ascetics, and children receive food with folded hands. Above, a translucent Viṣṇu form appears in the sky as if blessing the act, suggesting that feeding beings is feeding the Lord.","primary_figures":["anna-kṣetra volunteers","pilgrims and ascetics","children and elders","symbolic Viṣṇu (sky apparition)"],"setting":"temple entrance with stone steps, large cauldrons, banana-leaf plates, charity water station","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["marigold orange","sandalwood beige","emerald green","deep ultramarine","gold leaf"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: grand anna-kṣetra at a Viṣṇu temple gate, cauldrons and ladles rendered with gold leaf shine, Viṣṇu’s haloed presence above with śaṅkha-cakra, rich reds/greens, ornate pillars, jewel-like detailing on vessels and crowns.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: gentle humanitarian scene—pilgrims queued under a tree by a temple, servers offering food, soft mountain-like pastel background, delicate textiles, refined expressions of gratitude and compassion.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, rhythmic composition of serving and receiving, stylized temple architecture, Viṣṇu emblem hovering, warm red-yellow-green palette with traditional mural facial features.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Krishna-centered charity—anna-kṣetra framed by lotus and creeper borders, peacocks near water pots, deep blue background with gold highlights, devotees receiving prasāda in orderly rows, intricate floral motifs."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"celebratory","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["temple bells","crowd murmur (soft)","ladle against pot","conch shell","footsteps on stone"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्राणदश्च = प्राणदः + च; तस्मात्समस्तदानानामन्नदो = तस्मात् + समस्तदानानाम् + अन्नदः (त् + स → त्स; म् + अ → मा)
FAQs
Because food sustains prāṇa (vital life-force) and bodily existence; supporting nourishment is treated as directly supporting life itself.
It prioritizes practical compassion: meeting basic needs (food) is portrayed as an especially meritorious form of dāna among many charitable acts.
It praises anna-dāna as exceptionally fruitful—receiving the merit comparable to all gifts—without necessarily denying the value of other forms of charity in dharma.