Shloka 8
Gopradāna-phalasaṃprāpti: Nāciketa’s Vision of Vaivasvata’s Realms (गोप्रदानफलसम्प्राप्तिः — नाचिकेतोपाख्यानम्)
अन्ने दत्ते नरेणेह प्राणा दत्ता भवन्त्युत
anne datte nareṇeha prāṇā dattā bhavanty uta |
Wika ni Bhishma: “Sa mundong ito, kapag ang isang tao’y nagkaloob ng pagkain, para na rin niyang ipinagkaloob ang mismong buhay; sapagkat walang handog na hihigit sa handog ng buhay. O makapangyarihang bisig, tiyak na narinig mo rin hinggil dito ang sinabi ng pantas na si Lomasha.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Giving food is equated with giving life, because food sustains the prāṇas (vital forces). Therefore, anna-dāna is presented as among the highest forms of charity and a central expression of dharma and compassion.
Bhishma is instructing (Yudhishthira) on dharma related to gifts and merit. He emphasizes the supreme value of feeding others and supports the point by referring to an earlier authoritative saying associated with the sage Lomasha.