Shloka 15
अन्नदान-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Gift of Food) | Annadāna-Praśaṃsā
कृतैरावस थेैरननित्य॑ संप्रेष्यै: सपरिच्छदै: । निमन्त्रयेथा: कौरव्य सर्वकामसुखावहै:
bhīṣma uvāca |
kṛtair āvasathair anitya-saṁpreṣyaiḥ sa-paricchadaiḥ |
nimantrayedāḥ kauravya sarva-kāma-sukhāvahaiḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：“噢，俱卢后裔（尤狄湿提罗）啊，当遣使者寻访那些可敬的婆罗门圣贤——不向天神亦不向世人有所求，恒常知足，唯以不求自来的所得维生者。应以备办妥当的居处、侍从与所需供具相迎——此等供养能成就一切正当安乐。因为此类人物一旦受困受辱，便会可怖如含毒之蛇；故当以恭敬供奉来自护。日复一日，在家中以圆满的尊礼与款待迎接他们；如此敬奉，能保安泰与福乐。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king safeguards his realm and his own welfare by honoring truly content, desireless brahmin sages with proper hospitality—lodging, attendants, and respectful daily reception. Neglecting or offending such persons is dangerous; reverence toward them is presented as a practical form of protection grounded in dharma.
In Bhishma’s post-war instruction to Yudhishthira (Anushasana Parva), he advises the king to locate worthy brahmins through messengers and invite them to stay, providing comfortable arrangements and continual honor, warning that distressed sages can become fearsome if wronged.