Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 16
ब्राह्मण–क्षत्रिय-श्रेष्ठता-विवादः
Arjuna–Vāyu Dialogue on Brāhmaṇa and Kṣatriya Precedence
ब्राह्मण, क्षत्रिय, वैश्य अथवा शूद्र यदि उपवासपूर्वक एक वर्षतक इस प्रकार हमारे लिये बलिदान करे तो उसका महान् फल होता है। बाँबीके निकट बलि अर्पित करनेपर वह हमारे लिये अधिक फल देनेवाला माना गया है ।।
reṇukovāca | brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyo vaiśyo athavā śūdro yady upavāsapūrvakam eka-varṣaṃ yathā-vidhi asmākaṃ kṛte balidānaṃ kuryāt, tasya mahān phalaṃ bhavati | bāmbī-samīpe baliṃ nivedayitvā tad asmākaṃ kṛte ’dhika-phala-pradaṃ manyate || ye ca nāgā mahā-vīryāḥ triṣu lokeṣu kṛtsnaśaḥ, kṛtātithyā bhaveyus te śataṃ varṣāṇi tattvataḥ ||
Sinabi ni Reṇuk: “Maging siya’y brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, o śūdra—kung matapos magsagawa ng pag-aayuno ay isasakatuparan niya sa loob ng isang buong taon ang itinakdang handog na bali para sa amin, dakila ang gantimpala nito. At kapag inihain ang bali malapit sa bunton ng langgam (valmīka), itinuturing itong lalo pang mabunga para sa amin. Tunay nga, ang lahat ng makapangyarihang Nāga sa tatlong daigdig ay nagiging tunay na pinararangalan at tinatanggap nang marangal sa loob ng sandaang taon sa pamamagitan ng handog na ito.”
रेणुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that disciplined, sustained giving—performed with self-restraint (fasting) and proper ritual attention—produces great merit, and that honoring even non-human beings (Nāgas) through appropriate offerings is ethically framed as a form of hospitality and respect.
Reṇuka explains the fruit of a year-long bali-offering performed for the Nāgas, noting that offering near an anthill is considered especially efficacious, and that this act results in the Nāgas across the three worlds being truly honored for a hundred years.