Shloka 64
Nṛga-upākhyāna: Brāhmaṇa-sva and the Consequence of Misappropriated Gift-Cattle (कृकलास-रूपे नृगोपाख्यानम्)
सुकृच्छामापदं प्राप्तश्नान्नद: पुरुषस्तरेत् । पापं तरति चैवेह दुष्कृतं चापकर्षति
sukṛcchrām āpadaṃ prāptaś chānna-daḥ puruṣas taret | pāpaṃ tarati caiveha duṣkṛtaṃ cāpakarṣati ||
Itinuro ni Bhishma na ang taong nagbibigay ng pagkain (anna-dāna—ang kaloob na nagtataguyod sa iba sa pamamagitan ng sustansiya) ay makakatawid kahit sa pinakamabigat na kapahamakan kapag ito’y dumating sa kanya. Sa mismong buhay na ito, nalalampasan niya ang kasalanan, at napapawi rin niya ang mga bunga at hilig ng mga maling gawa na maaaring sumunod pa sa hinaharap.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma states that giving food is a powerful dharmic act: it helps the giver overcome severe adversity, purifies existing sin, and diminishes the force of future wrongdoing by strengthening merit and ethical disposition.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira about the fruits of charity. Here he highlights anna-dāna as especially efficacious, portraying it as a safeguard in times of crisis and a means of moral cleansing.