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 ||
ビーシュマは言った。「ゆえに食は、この世において—いや、あらゆる世界において—最上と宣言される。食より、生きものの力と生命の輝きは常に増しゆく。ゆえにダルマの規範において、他者を養い支えることは第一の務めとなる。命も気力も、正しき行いの力も、養いに依るからである。」
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.