Shloka 57
Nṛga-upākhyāna: Brāhmaṇa-sva and the Consequence of Misappropriated Gift-Cattle (कृकलास-रूपे नृगोपाख्यानम्)
भ्रान्ताय क्षुधितायान्न यः प्रयच्छति भूमिप: । स्वायम्भुवं महत् स्थानं स गच्छति नराधिप,नरेश्वर! जो भूमिपाल थके-माँदे और भूखे मनुष्यको अन्न देता है, वह ब्रह्माजीके परमधाममें जाता है
bhrāntāya kṣudhitāyānna yaḥ prayacchati bhūmipaḥ | svāyambhuvaṁ mahat sthānaṁ sa gacchati narādhipa ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Ó rei, o governante que oferece alimento a quem está errante, exausto e faminto alcança a grande morada de Svayambhuva (Brahmā).”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Feeding a weary and hungry person is a foremost act of dharma, especially for a king; such compassionate giving (anna-dāna) yields exalted spiritual merit, described here as attaining Brahmā’s great abode.
In Bhishma’s instruction to the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) within the Anuśāsana Parva’s teachings on dharma and gifts, he praises the merit of providing food to those in distress and links it to a high posthumous reward.