Shloka 8
Tilā-Dāna, Dīpa-Dāna, and Nitya-Jalapradāna
Yama–Brāhmaṇa Saṃvāda) | तिलदान-दीपदान-नित्यजलप्रदान (यम-ब्राह्मण संवाद
आर्द्रायां कृसरं दत्त्वा तिलमिश्रमुपोषित: । नरस्तरति दुर्गाणि क्षुरधारांश्व॒ पर्वतान्
Ārdrāyāṃ kṛsaraṃ dattvā tilamiśram upoṣitaḥ | naras tarati durgāṇi kṣuradhārāṃś ca parvatān ||
Nārada nói: “Ai sau khi giữ trai giới (nhịn ăn) mà bố thí món kṛsara (cơm trộn đậu) có lẫn mè vào ngày thuộc tinh tú Ārdrā, thì vượt qua được những gian nan hiểm trở—thậm chí cả những ngọn núi sắc như lưỡi dao.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that disciplined self-restraint (fasting) combined with timely, prescribed charity (donating sesame-mixed kṛsara on Ārdrā) generates spiritual merit that helps one overcome even extreme difficulties.
Nārada is describing the fruit (phala) of a specific observance: fasting and then giving a particular food-offering on the Ārdrā nakṣatra. He uses vivid imagery—crossing perilous obstacles and razor-edged mountains—to emphasize the power of such dharmic acts.