The Importance of Annadāna

Dharmaraja Yudhishtira asked Bheeshma, “O most exalted one! Please tell me what should be donated to resolute Brahmans in this world by a king who wishes to do dāna. What dāna makes a Brahman happy?

 

O mighty-armed one! Please tell me about the fruits of dāna. Which dāna gives extraordinary fruits in this earthly world and the heavenly world? I wish to know this from you. Please tell me in detail.”

 

Bheeshma replied, “Yudhishtira! I have heard about this from Devarshi Narada. I will tell you all that he told me. Listen carefully.

 

Narada Devarshi said, “Both the Devathas and Rishis have praised annadāna and declared it to be the most excellent. It is through anna only that one can travel to the different worlds. It is through anna that the intellect acquires swiftness and it is in that anna that everything is consecrated.

 

There is no dāna comparable to annadāna and nor will there ever be. Therefore, man should give annadāna. It is anna that increases the strength of the body. The prāna remains in this body because of anna and this entire universe is contained in anna only.

 

Grihastha, vānaprastha and those who beg for alms live in this universe because of anna only. It is through anna that the lifeforce of all the beings is protected. Everyone has had firsthand experience of this and hence, there is no doubt.

 

Therefore, a man who wishes to be fortunate should give annadāna to the sorrowful, young children, high-minded Brahmans and those begging for alms. The one who gives annadāna to a deserving chaste Brahman will secure a treasure in the heavenly world.

 

If a tired and hungry old person comes to your house, then that house-holder should respect him. A person who suppresses his anger and renunciates jealousy and gives annadāna in a humble and modest way will attain happiness in this world and the heavenly world.

 

One should neither insult nor ignore one who has come to your house because the anna given to a chāndāla and dog will not be in vain. A man who joyfully gives anna to an unfamiliar person will attain righteousness. O king! One who pleases Devatas, ancestors, Rishis, Brahmans and guests through annadāna will attain immense blessings.

 

Even one who has committed a heinous crime will not get deluded because of that sin if he gives anna to any poor person particularly a Brahman. A man will attain the imperishable fruit when he gives anna to a Brahman, great fruit when he gives anna to a shudra; however, a special fruit is attained when food is given to either a shudra or a Brahman.

 

If a Brahman comes to you asking for food, one must not inquire about his lineage, his Shākha, his understanding of the Vedas and his residence but instead, serve him immediately. There is no doubt that a king who does annadāna will have plants of anna in the earthly and heavenly world that will give him all that he desires.

 

Just like how a farmer celebrates a good harvest, similarly, the ancestors also wish that their sons or grandsons will present them with anna. Brahman is an extraordinary being. If a Brahman himself asks for food, then a man should serve him food dispassionately and without any expectations.

 

A virtuous Brahman is deserving to be everyone’s guest and receive food first. It is a fact that when a high-minded Brahman receives alms from a house, there will be a significant increase in their wealth and stature and the owner of that house will be born in a high lineage after he sheds his mortal coil.

 

A man who always gives food and sweets in an exalted place will be honoured by the Devathas and will reside in the heavenly world. Anna is the prāna of man; everything is established in anna, therefore, a man who gives annadāna will attain cow/cattle, son, wealth, worldly pleasures, strength and beauty.

 

A man who gives anna in this universe is known to be a life-giver and giver of all. A man who feeds a resolute Brahman appropriately will attain happiness in the heavenly world and the Devathas will venerate him.

 

Yudhishtira! A chaste Brahman is an exalted being and a field. The seed sown within him will render immense fruits. Anna is one such dāna that gives direct happiness to the giver and receiver. The other dāna give virtual fruits.

 

The birth of a child is due to anna. It is because of anna that coitus is successful. Understand that the fulfilment of dharma and artha is only because of anna. Diseases are also destroyed because of anna.

 

In the ancient days, Prajāpati has called anna as amrut. The earthly world, heavenly world and space are in the form of anna as anna is the foundation for all.

 

The five tattvas within the body separate when the body does not receive anna. Even strong men get tired when there is shortage of food.

 

Invitation, marriage and yagna will have to end if there is no anna. One forgets the knowledge of the Vedas if there is no anna. The entire gamut of creation is based on anna.

 

Hence, an intelligent man should understand that annadāna is imperative for the dharma in the three worlds.

 

The strength, prowess, glory and fame of a man who gives annadāna will always extend to the three worlds.

 

Air, Lord of the prāna is seated above the clouds and Indra sends the water in the clouds to earth as rain. Surya absorbs the rasa of earth through his rays. Vāyu then receives that from Surya and sends it as showers to the earth.

 

In this manner, when water from the clouds fall on earth, the earth becomes wet. Seedlings sprout on that moist bed through which the beings of the universe are fed.

 

It is through anna that flesh, fat, bones and sperm are determined. The being is created from that sperm.

 

In this way, Agni and Soma create and sustain the sperm. Surya, Vāyu and sperm are of one kind that have manifested from anna. All the beings are created from them.

 

One who feeds the one who has come asking for food will give prāna and tej to all beings.”

 

Thus, Bheeshma narrated all that he heard from Narada Devarshi about the importance of annadāna. He then instructed Yudhishtira, “After Narada Devarshi revealed the greatness of annadāna, I have been giving annadāna daily. You must also forgo seeing flaws and jealousy and always give annadāna. You will attain the blessings of the heavenly worlds by feeding chaste Brahmans. You must also give annadāna to attain the exalted goal.”

 

[Excerpt: Anushāsanaparvani, Dānadharmaparva, Mahābhārat]