Pānīya-dāna and Anna-dāna: The Primacy of Life-Sustaining Gifts (पानीयदान-प्रशंसा / अन्नदान-प्रशंसा)
मेघेषूर्ध्व संनिधत्ते प्राणानां पवन: पति: । तच्च मेघगतं वारि शक्रो वर्षति भारत,भारत! प्राणोंका स्वामी पवन मेघोंके ऊपर स्थित होता है और मेघमें जो जल है, उसे इन्द्र धरतीपर बरसाते हैं
meghesbrdhva43 sannidhatte pr147143 pavana25 pati25 | tacca meghagata43 v1ri bakro var63ati bh1rata bh1rata ||
ഹേ ഭാരതാ! പ്രാണങ്ങളുടെ അധിപനായ പവൻ മേഘങ്ങളുടെ മീതെ നിലകൊള്ളുന്നു; മേഘങ്ങളിൽ അടങ്ങിയ ജലം ശക്രൻ (ഇന്ദ്രൻ) ഭൂമിയിൽ മഴയായി വർഷിപ്പിക്കുന്നു.
नारद उवाच
The verse points to an ordered universe where specific powers have specific roles: Vayu governs the life-breath, while Indra governs rainfall. Life is sustained when each force performs its proper function, illustrating dharma as harmonious regulation rather than chaos.
Narada explains a natural process in theological terms: Vayu is said to abide above the clouds as the lord of prana, and Indra releases the cloud-contained water as rain. The address 'O Bharata' situates the explanation as instruction to a Kuru listener.