Mahabharata — Svargarohana Parva, Shloka 656

Devanagari script

अपूपैस्तर्पणैश्वैव सर्वमन्नें प्रदापयेत्‌ । राजेन्द्र! शल्यपर्वमें मिठाई, गुड़, भात, पूआ तथा तृप्तिकारक फल आदिके साथ सब प्रकारके उत्तम अन्न दान करे

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca: apūpaiḥ tarpaṇaiś caiva sarvam annaṃ pradāpayet | rājendra!

Translation

毗耶娑波耶那说道：“诸王之最啊，当广施百味之食——尤以甜饼阿普帕（apūpa）与令人满足的供食/清食塔尔帕那（tarpaṇa）为要。”

Word by Word

• अपूपैः: with cakes (apūpas)
• अपूपैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपूप
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• तर्पणैः: with satiating/refreshing foods (tarpanas)
• तर्पणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्पण
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अन्नम्: food/grain
• अन्नम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्रदापयेत्: should cause to be given / should have (it) given
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दा (ददाति)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada, Yes (ṇic)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• rājendra (the king addressed)
• apūpa (sweet cake/food item)
• tarpaṇa (refreshment/offering)
• anna (food)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches anna-dāna—generous distribution of nourishing food and satisfying sweets/refreshments—as a concrete expression of dharma, emphasizing care for others through hospitality and charity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Within the Svargārohaṇa Parva’s reflective, consequence-focused narration, Vaiśampāyana addresses the king and states a prescriptive rule: arrange for the giving of all kinds of food, highlighting charitable conduct as spiritually significant.