Shloka 15

Pānīya-dāna and Anna-dāna: The Primacy of Life-Sustaining Gifts (पानीयदान-प्रशंसा / अन्नदान-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

पितृन्‌ देवानृषीन्‌ विप्रानतिथींश्व॒ जनाधिप । यो नर: प्रीणयत्यन्नैस्तस्य पुण्यफलं महत्‌

Transliteration

pitṝn devān ṛṣīn viprān atithīṁś ca janādhipa | yo naraḥ prīṇayaty annais tasya puṇyaphalaṁ mahat ||

Translation

ഹേ ജനാധിപാ! ആര്‍ അന്നം നല്‍കി പിതൃകളെയും ദേവന്മാരെയും ഋഷിമാരെയും ബ്രാഹ്മണരെയും അതിഥികളെയും സന്തോഷിപ്പിച്ച് തൃപ്തിപ്പെടുത്തുന്നുവോ, അവന്റെ പുണ്യഫലം മഹത്തായതാണ്.

Word by Word

• पितॄन्: the fathers/manes (pitṛs)
• पितॄन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• ऋषीन्: the sages
• ऋषीन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विप्रान्: the brāhmaṇas
• विप्रान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अतिथीन्: the guests
• अतिथीन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• जनाधिप: O lord of people (king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनाधिप
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रीणयति: pleases/satisfies
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रीणय् (प्री + णिच्)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अन्नैः: with food
• अन्नैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• तस्य: of him/for him
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• पुण्यफलम्: merit-fruit, reward of virtue
• पुण्यफलम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्यफल
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• महत्: great
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• नरेश्वर: O lord of men (king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरेश्वर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Devas (gods)
• Ṛṣis (seers)
• Vipras (brāhmaṇas)
• Atithis (guests)
• Janādhipa (king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Offering food as a dharmic act—supporting ancestors, gods (through offerings), sages, brāhmaṇas, and guests—produces great merit. The verse elevates anna-dāna and hospitality as central ethical duties for householders and rulers alike.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada addresses a king (janādhipa), instructing him on righteous conduct. In this section of Anuśāsana Parva, the discourse emphasizes practical dharma: sustaining sacred and social relationships through food-giving and respectful hospitality.