इति श्रीभविष्ये महापुराण उत्तरपर्वणि श्रीकृष्णयुधिष्ठिरसंवादे गृहदानविधिवर्णनं नामाष्टषष्ट्युत्तरशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Bhavishya Mahapurana, in the Uttara Parva, in the dialogue of Sri Krishna and Yudhishthira, the one hundred sixty-eighth chapter named 'Description of the Method of House Donation' is concluded.
अन्नदानमाहात्म्यवर्णनम् यत्प्रोक्तमृषिभिः पूर्वं तदिहैकमनाः शृणु
Now, listen attentively to what was formerly spoken by the sages regarding the greatness of food donation.
ददस्वान्नं ददस्वान्नं ददस्वान्नं युधिष्ठिर
Give food, give food, give food, O Yudhishthira.
रामेण दशरथिना वनस्थेन निजानुजः
By Rama, the son of Dasharatha, while dwelling in the forest, along with his own younger brother,
पृथिव्यामन्नपूर्णायां वयमन्नस्य कांक्षिणः
On this earth, though filled with food, we are desirous of food.
यदुच्यते कर्मबीजं तस्यावश्यं फलं नरैः
Whatever is called the seed of action, its fruit must surely be obtained by men.
यत्र प्राप्यं तदप्राप्यं विद्यया पौरुषेण वा
Whatever is attainable or unattainable, whether by knowledge or by effort,
भक्षोपयोगादन्नस्य दानं श्रेयस्करं परम्
The giving of food is the highest and best, surpassing even the use of food for one's own enjoyment.
प्रकारांतरभोज्यानि दानान्यन्यानि भारत
Other kinds of food and other gifts, O Bharata,
बुद्धिश्चार्थात्परो लोभः सन्तोषः परमं सुखम्
Intellect is superior to wealth; greed is the opposite; contentment is the highest happiness.
न सुखं न च सन्तोषो भवेदन्नादृते नृणाम् 4.169.
There is no happiness nor contentment for people without food.
तेनेष्टं बहुभिर्यज्ञैः संग्रामा बहवो जिताः
By that, many sacrifices have been performed and many battles won.
भुक्ता भोगाः सुविपुला शत्रूणां मूर्धनि स्थितम्
He enjoyed abundant pleasures, established upon the heads of his enemies.
स्वर्गं जगाम भुक्त्वा तु पूज्यमानो मरुद्गणैः
Having enjoyed them, and being honored by the hosts of wind-gods, he went to heaven.
तत्रास्ते रममाणोऽसौ साकं विद्याधरैः सुखम्
There he remains, delighting happily together with the Vidyādharas.
गंधर्वैर्गीयते हृष्टैः शक्रेणाप्यनुगम्यते
He is sung by joyful Gandharvas and followed even by Indra.
स च नित्यं वितानाग्र्यादवतीर्य महीतलम्
And he, descending always from the foremost canopy, comes down to the earth.
तच्छरीरं तथैवास्ते रक्षितं पूर्वकर्मभिः
That body of his remains just so, protected by previous deeds.
प्रणम्य प्रांजलिर्भूत्वा निर्वेदादिदमब्रवीत्
Having bowed, with joined palms, in dispassion he spoke this:
सर्वेषामपि संपूज्यः सुराणां सुरपुंगव
He is honored by all, O best of gods, even among the gods.
यया मांसान्यहं स्वस्य भक्ष्ययाम्यशनं विना ब्रह्मोवाच श्वेताभिजनसंपन्न श्वेत शृणु वचो मम ।। 4.169.
By which, without other food, I ate my own flesh—Brahmā spoke: 'O pure one of white lineage, O Śveta, hear my words.'
त्वयाधीतं हुतं दत्तं गुरवः परितोषिताः
You have studied, offered sacrifices, given gifts, and pleased your teachers.
अनन्नदानस्य फलं त्वयेदमुपभुज्यते
This is the fruit of not giving food, which you are now experiencing.
नान्यदन्नादृते पुंसां किञ्चित्सञ्जीवनौषधम्
For men, apart from food, there is no other life-restoring medicine.
तपः स्वाध्यायसंपन्ने शास्त्रज्ञे संजितेन्द्रिये
One endowed with austerity, study, knowledge of scripture, and mastery of the senses—
विरिंचेर्वचनाद्गत्वा त्वरायुक्तो महीतलम्
By the command of the Creator, he quickly went to the earth.
भोजयित्वा ततः प्रादाद्दक्षिणां क्षीणकल्मषः
Having fed (others), then he gave gifts, his sins exhausted.
ततो दुन्दुभिघोषेण पूजितः सुरसत्तमैः
Then, with the sound of drums, he was honored by the best of gods.
पौलस्त्ये निहते पश्चाद्देवदानवसंकटे
After the destruction of the Paulastya, in the crisis between gods and demons—
एतदन्नस्य माहात्म्यं कथयाम्यपरं च ते
I will tell you further the greatness of this food.