Shloka 10
भोजनादेव लोकांस्त्रींस्त्रायन्ते महतो भयात् | दीप: सर्वस्य लोकस्य चक्षुश्क्षुष्मतामपि
bhojanād eva lokāṁs trīn trāyante mahato bhayāt | dīpaḥ sarvasya lokasya cakṣuḥ cakṣuṣmatām api ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—କେବଳ ଭୋଜନ ଦେବା ମାତ୍ରେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣମାନେ ମହାଭୟରୁ ତିନି ଲୋକକୁ ରକ୍ଷା କରନ୍ତି। ସେମାନେ ସମଗ୍ର ଜଗତ ପାଇଁ ଦୀପ ପରି ପ୍ରକାଶକ, ଏବଂ ଚକ୍ଷୁଥିବାମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଚକ୍ଷୁ ସ୍ୱରୂପ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates anna-dāna (the gift of food) as a world-sustaining dharma: supporting Brahmins through feeding is portrayed as protecting society from great fear, because Brahmins embody and transmit sacred knowledge and moral discernment—like a lamp and like eyesight.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction on gifts and duties, Bhishma teaches Yudhishthira the ethical power of charity. Here he praises feeding (especially of Brahmins) as a supreme act whose benefit extends beyond the giver and recipient to the stability and well-being of the three worlds.