Shloka 6
Gopradāna-phalasaṃprāpti: Nāciketa’s Vision of Vaivasvata’s Realms (गोप्रदानफलसम्प्राप्तिः — नाचिकेतोपाख्यानम्)
तस्मादन्नं परं लोके सर्वलोकेषु कथ्यते । अन्नाद् बल॑ च तेजश्न प्राणिनां वर्धते सदा
tasmād annaṃ paraṃ loke sarvalokeṣu kathyate | annād balaṃ ca tejaś ca prāṇināṃ vardhate sadā ||
Bhīṣma dit : «C’est pourquoi la nourriture est proclamée la plus haute en ce monde—et, en vérité, dans tous les mondes. De la nourriture croissent sans cesse la force et l’éclat vital des êtres. Ainsi, dans l’ordre du dharma, nourrir et soutenir autrui s’élève au rang de devoir premier, car la vie, la vigueur et la capacité d’agir avec droiture dépendent de la subsistance.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Food is proclaimed the supreme support of life: it is the direct cause for the growth of strength and vital energy in all beings. Hence, providing food is a primary dharmic act because it sustains life and enables all other duties.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues his counsel by emphasizing the foundational value of anna (food), framing nourishment and food-giving as central to righteous conduct and social welfare.