Shloka 5
Gopradāna-phalasaṃprāpti: Nāciketa’s Vision of Vaivasvata’s Realms (गोप्रदानफलसम्प्राप्तिः — नाचिकेतोपाख्यानम्)
न तस्मात् परम॑ दानं किंचिदस्तीति मे मन: । अन्नात् प्राणभृतस्तात प्रवर्तन्ते हि सर्वश:
na tasmāt paramaṁ dānaṁ kiñcid astīti me manaḥ | annāt prāṇabhṛtas tāta pravartante hi sarvaśaḥ ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Kaya, sa aking paghatol, walang handog na hihigit pa rito. Sapagkat, mahal kong anak, ang lahat ng nilalang na nagtataguyod ng buhay ay umuusbong at lumalago dahil sa pagkain.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that giving food (anna-dāna) is the highest form of charity because it directly sustains life; all beings depend upon food to live and function.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma is advising the listener about the hierarchy of gifts, asserting that no donation surpasses the gift of food since it supports the very breath and continuance of all creatures.