Shloka 51
Pānīya-dāna and Anna-dāna: The Primacy of Life-Sustaining Gifts (पानीयदान-प्रशंसा / अन्नदान-प्रशंसा)
प्रासादा: पाण्डुराभ्राभा: शय्याश्व॒ काज्चनोज्ज्वला: । तान्यन्नदा: प्रपद्यन्ते तस्मादन्नप्रदो भव
bhīṣma uvāca | prāsādāḥ pāṇḍurābhrābhāḥ śayyāś ca kāñcanojjvalāḥ | tāny annadāḥ prapadyante tasmād annaprado bhava ||
Bhishma berkata: “Istana-istana yang berkilau laksana awan putih, dan katil-katil yang bersinar dengan emas—kediaman semegah itu dicapai oleh mereka yang menderma makanan. Oleh itu, jadilah pemberi makanan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Food-giving (annadāna) is presented as a high dharmic act whose merit yields prosperity and splendid enjoyments; therefore one should practice giving food.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma and gifts, he praises the fruit of feeding others, stating that magnificent palaces and golden beds are attained by those who donate food, and he urges the listener to become an annadātā.