Shloka 1
Pānīya-dāna and Anna-dāna: The Primacy of Life-Sustaining Gifts (पानीयदान-प्रशंसा / अन्नदान-प्रशंसा)
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठके २६ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ९८३ श्लोक हैं) न२््च्स्स््तािस्ि ह्य £>ाभ्प्ट् त्रेषष्टितमोड्ध्याय: अन्नदानका विशेष माहात्म्य युधिछ्िर उवाच कानि दानानि लोके5स्मिन् दातुकामो महीपति: । गुणाधिकेभ्यो विप्रेभ्यो दद्यात् भरतसत्तम
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: kāni dānāni loke 'smin dātukāmo mahīpatiḥ | guṇādhikebhyo viprebhyo dadyāt bharatasattama ||
Yudhiṣṭhira dit : «Ô meilleur des Bharata, si un roi en ce monde désire faire des dons, quelles sortes d’offrandes doit-il donner aux brahmanes qui excellent en vertu ?»
युधिछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames charity (dāna) as a key royal duty and asks that giving be directed toward recipients distinguished by virtue (guṇa), implying that ethical discernment in both the choice of gift and recipient is central to dharma.
At the opening of the chapter on the special greatness of food-giving (annadāna), Yudhiṣṭhira initiates a discussion by asking what donations a king who wishes to give should offer to virtuous Brahmins.