Shloka 17

अन्नदानफलं (Anna-dāna-phala) / The Fruit of Food-Giving

Devanagari script

अत: पर॑ं नोपवासो भवतीति विनिश्षय: । उवाच भगवान्‌ विष्णु: स्वयमेव पुरातनम्‌

Transliteration

ataḥ paraṁ nopavāso bhavatīti viniśṣayaḥ | uvāca bhagavān viṣṇuḥ svayam eva purātanam |

Translation

ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ଜାଣ—ଏହି ଉପବାସଠାରୁ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଅନ୍ୟ କୌଣସି ଉପବାସ ନାହିଁ। ଏହି ପୁରାତନ ବ୍ରତ ବିଷୟରେ ସ୍ୱୟଂ ଭଗବାନ ବିଷ୍ଣୁ ଉପଦେଶ ଦେଇଥିଲେ।

Word by Word

• अतः: therefore; from this
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः
• Form: indeclinable (ablatival adverb: 'from this/therefore')

• परम्: further; other; greater
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: neuter, nominative/accusative, singular (used adverbially: 'further/other/greater')

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न
• Form: indeclinable (negation)

• उपवासः: fast; religious fasting
• उपवासः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• भवति: is; becomes
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: present tense (laṭ), parasmaipada, 3rd person, singular

• इति: thus; 'that...'
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति
• Form: indeclinable (quotative particle)

• विनिश्चयः: certainty; firm conclusion
• विनिश्चयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनिश्चय
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• उवाच: said; spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: perfect (liṭ), parasmaipada, 3rd person, singular

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• स्वयम्: himself
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम्
• Form: indeclinable

• एव: indeed; alone
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव
• Form: indeclinable (emphatic particle)

• पुरातनम्: ancient; primeval
• पुरातनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरातन
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular (agreeing with an implied neuter noun like व्रतम्/धर्मम्)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Vishnu

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse asserts the supremacy of a particular religious fast/observance, emphasizing that no higher upavāsa exists, and grounds this claim in the highest authority—Vishnu’s direct instruction—thereby linking ascetic discipline with devotional dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction-setting, Bhishma continues his discourse on dharma and vows, affirming a definitive conclusion about an exemplary fast and citing Vishnu as the original teacher of this ancient observance.