Shloka 353
Dharma-vyādha’s Analysis of Moral Decline and the Mahābhūta–Guṇa Schema (धर्मव्याधोपदेशः)
न हीदृशं पुण्यफलं विचित्रमिह विद्यते । अतः युधिष्ठिर! तुम सारे दानोंको छोड़कर केवल अन्नदान करते रहो। इस संसारमें अन्नदानके समान विचित्र एवं पुण्यदायक दूसरा कोई दान नहीं है
na hīdṛśaṃ puṇyaphalaṃ vicitram iha vidyate | ataḥ yudhiṣṭhira! tvaṃ sarve dānāni tyaktvā kevalam annadānaṃ kurv iti | asmin saṃsāre annadānasamaṃ vicitraṃ puṇyadāyakaṃ ca dānam anyan na vidyate |
Wika ni Mārkaṇḍeya: “Sa daigdig na ito, wala nang ibang bungang-kabutihang kasingtangi at kasinghimala nito. Kaya, O Yudhiṣṭhira, isantabi mo ang iba pang mga handog at ipagpatuloy mo ang pag-aalay ng pagkain. Sa buhay ng tao, walang kawanggawang hihigit sa pagpapakain sa kapwa—walang kasingganda ng bisa, walang kasingbunga sa kabutihan.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
That feeding others (annadāna) is the most exceptional and merit-producing form of charity; it directly sustains life and therefore surpasses other gifts in ethical and spiritual value.
Mārkaṇḍeya instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma, emphasizing that among many possible acts of giving, the continual practice of donating food is uniquely powerful and should be prioritized.