Shloka 21
अन्नदान-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Gift of Food) | Annadāna-Praśaṃsā
निवापदानसलिलस्तादृशेषु युधिष्ठिर । निवसन् पूजयंश्लैव तेष्वानृण्यं नियच्छति
nivāpadānasalilas tādṛśeṣu yudhiṣṭhira | nivasan pūjayaṁś caiva teṣv ānṛṇyaṁ niyacchati ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Ô Yudhiṣṭhira, celui qui donne à de tels hommes l’“eau” des dons—comme une libation de tarpaṇa—et qui les laisse demeurer (auprès de lui) tout en les honorant, obtient l’affranchissement des dettes. Aussi, tiens satisfaits les brahmanes mentionnés plus haut, comme on satisfait les Pitṛ par le tarpaṇa, grâce à l’eau de la charité ; accorde-leur demeure et respect. En agissant ainsi, l’homme se libère des dettes envers les dieux et les autres».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Charity and respectful hospitality—especially toward worthy Brahmanas—functions like a sacred libation (tarpaṇa): it ‘satisfies’ them and helps the giver discharge moral and ritual obligations (ṛṇa), leading to ānṛṇya, freedom from debt to devas, ancestors, and other claimants of duty.
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma continues instructing Yudhishthira on dharma. Here he urges Yudhishthira to support and honor the previously described Brahmanas by giving them residence and gifts, comparing such giving to the ancestral rite of tarpaṇa, and stating that this conduct frees one from obligations.