Shloka 8
Tilā-Dāna, Dīpa-Dāna, and Nitya-Jalapradāna
Yama–Brāhmaṇa Saṃvāda) | तिलदान-दीपदान-नित्यजलप्रदान (यम-ब्राह्मण संवाद
आर्द्रायां कृसरं दत्त्वा तिलमिश्रमुपोषित: । नरस्तरति दुर्गाणि क्षुरधारांश्व॒ पर्वतान्
Ārdrāyāṃ kṛsaraṃ dattvā tilamiśram upoṣitaḥ | naras tarati durgāṇi kṣuradhārāṃś ca parvatān ||
Nārada dit : «Celui qui, après avoir jeûné, offre du kṛsara (mets de riz et de légumineuses) mêlé de sésame au jour de la demeure lunaire Ārdrā, franchit même les épreuves les plus redoutables — fût-ce des montagnes au tranchant de rasoir.»
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that disciplined self-restraint (fasting) combined with timely, prescribed charity (donating sesame-mixed kṛsara on Ārdrā) generates spiritual merit that helps one overcome even extreme difficulties.
Nārada is describing the fruit (phala) of a specific observance: fasting and then giving a particular food-offering on the Ārdrā nakṣatra. He uses vivid imagery—crossing perilous obstacles and razor-edged mountains—to emphasize the power of such dharmic acts.