Shloka 58
Nṛga-upākhyāna: Brāhmaṇa-sva and the Consequence of Misappropriated Gift-Cattle (कृकलास-रूपे नृगोपाख्यानम्)
न हिरण्यैर्न वासोभिननान्यदानेन भारत । प्राप्रुवन्ति नरा: श्रेयो यथा ह्व[न्नप्रदा: प्रभो
na hiraṇyair na vāsobhir nānyadānena bhārata | prāpnuvanti narāḥ śreyo yathā hy annapradāḥ prabho ||
हे भरतनंदन, प्रभो! अन्नदान करणारे ज्या प्रकारे कल्याण व परम श्रेय प्राप्त करतात, तसा श्रेय सुवर्ण, वस्त्रे किंवा इतर दानांनी मनुष्यांना मिळत नाही.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Among forms of charity, giving food (annadāna) yields the highest śreyaḥ (true welfare/ultimate good), surpassing gifts like gold, clothing, or other valuables, because food directly sustains life and supports dharmic living.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira about the relative merits of different gifts, emphasizing that feeding others brings greater benefit than donating wealth or goods.