Shloka 42
The Glory of Charity: Land-Gifts, Śālagrāma Donation, and Food–Water as Supreme Gifts
अन्नदो यो नरो विप्र प्राणदश्च प्रकीर्त्तितः । तस्मात्समस्तदानानामन्नदो लभते फलम्
annado yo naro vipra prāṇadaśca prakīrttitaḥ | tasmātsamastadānānāmannado labhate phalam
โอ วิปรพราหมณ์ บุรุษผู้ให้ทานเป็นอาหาร ย่อมถูกสรรเสริญว่าเป็นผู้ให้ชีวิต; เพราะฉะนั้น ผู้ให้อาหารย่อมได้ผลบุญแห่งทานทั้งปวง
Unspecified (context-dependent narrator within Brahma-khaṇḍa discourse)
Concept: To give food is to give life; hence its fruit equals the aggregate merit of all charities.
Application: Make anna-dāna a regular vow: sponsor meals, feed students/elderly, offer prasāda, and ensure no guest leaves hungry; treat it as ‘prāṇa-sevā’.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A public anna-kṣetra near a temple gate: volunteers ladle khichdi into bowls while a line of pilgrims, ascetics, and children receive food with folded hands. Above, a translucent Viṣṇu form appears in the sky as if blessing the act, suggesting that feeding beings is feeding the Lord.","primary_figures":["anna-kṣetra volunteers","pilgrims and ascetics","children and elders","symbolic Viṣṇu (sky apparition)"],"setting":"temple entrance with stone steps, large cauldrons, banana-leaf plates, charity water station","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["marigold orange","sandalwood beige","emerald green","deep ultramarine","gold leaf"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: grand anna-kṣetra at a Viṣṇu temple gate, cauldrons and ladles rendered with gold leaf shine, Viṣṇu’s haloed presence above with śaṅkha-cakra, rich reds/greens, ornate pillars, jewel-like detailing on vessels and crowns.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: gentle humanitarian scene—pilgrims queued under a tree by a temple, servers offering food, soft mountain-like pastel background, delicate textiles, refined expressions of gratitude and compassion.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, rhythmic composition of serving and receiving, stylized temple architecture, Viṣṇu emblem hovering, warm red-yellow-green palette with traditional mural facial features.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Krishna-centered charity—anna-kṣetra framed by lotus and creeper borders, peacocks near water pots, deep blue background with gold highlights, devotees receiving prasāda in orderly rows, intricate floral motifs."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"celebratory","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["temple bells","crowd murmur (soft)","ladle against pot","conch shell","footsteps on stone"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्राणदश्च = प्राणदः + च; तस्मात्समस्तदानानामन्नदो = तस्मात् + समस्तदानानाम् + अन्नदः (त् + स → त्स; म् + अ → मा)
FAQs
Because food sustains prāṇa (vital life-force) and bodily existence; supporting nourishment is treated as directly supporting life itself.
It prioritizes practical compassion: meeting basic needs (food) is portrayed as an especially meritorious form of dāna among many charitable acts.
It praises anna-dāna as exceptionally fruitful—receiving the merit comparable to all gifts—without necessarily denying the value of other forms of charity in dharma.