Shloka 66
पात्रलक्षण-परिक्षा (Pātra-Lakṣaṇa Parīkṣā) — Criteria for a Worthy Recipient
सर्वे ब्राह्मणमाविश्य सदान्नमुप भुठ्जते । सूर्य, चन्द्रमा, वायु, जल, पृथ्वी, आकाश और दिशा--इन सबके अधिष्ठाता देवता सदा ब्राह्मणके शरीरमें प्रवेश करके अन्न भोजन करते हैं
sarve brāhmaṇam āviśya sadā annam upabhuñjate | sūrya-candramā-vāyu-jala-pṛthvī-ākāśa-diśāṃ caiteṣām adhiṣṭhātṛ-devatāḥ sadā brāhmaṇasya śarīraṃ praviśya annam aśnanti ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Ang lahat ng kapangyarihang banal—yaong mga diyos na namamahala sa araw, buwan, hangin, tubig, lupa, kalawakan, at mga direksiyon—ay patuloy na pumapasok sa katawan ng isang brāhmaṇa at nakikibahagi sa pagkain. Kaya ang paggalang at pagtangkilik sa brāhmaṇa sa pamamagitan ng wastong pagbibigay at maayos na pagtanggap sa panauhin ay hindi lamang kagandahang-asal, kundi isang gawang dharma na umaabot sa kaayusang kosmiko, sapagkat ang mga diyos ay itinuturing na naroroon sa kanya bilang kanilang buhay na luklukan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Feeding and honoring a brāhmaṇa is portrayed as a dharmic act with cosmic reach: the presiding deities of fundamental elements and directions are said to dwell in him and thus receive the offering. The verse elevates hospitality and right giving (especially food) into a form of sustaining ṛta/dharma.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma (Anuśāsana Parva), he explains to the listener that deities associated with the sun, moon, wind, water, earth, space, and the directions enter the brāhmaṇa’s body and partake of food—supporting the broader exhortation to practice hospitality and charitable feeding.