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.
अन्नं वै प्राणिनां प्राणा अन्नमोजो बलं सुखम् 4.169.
Food is indeed the life of living beings; food is vigor, strength, and happiness.
सुदूरादाशया यस्य गृहं प्राप्ता बुभुक्षिताः
When those who are hungry arrive at someone's house from a great distance, with hope—
दीक्षितः कपिला सत्री राजा भिक्षुर्महोदधिः
Whether it be an initiated one, a tawny cow, a virtuous woman, a king, a beggar, or the great ocean—
एकस्याप्यतिथेरन्नं यः प्रदातुमशक्तिमान्
If one is unable to give food even to a single guest—
शक्यते दुष्करेऽप्यर्थे चिररात्राय जीवितुम्
It is possible, even in difficult circumstances, to survive for a long time.
भुक्त्वा गृहे गृहस्थस्य मैथुनं यश्च सेवते
He who, after eating in a householder's home, engages in sexual union—
दुष्कृतं हि मनुष्याणामन्नमाश्रित्य तिष्ठति
Indeed, the wrongdoing of men persists by relying on food.
वनस्पतिगते सोमे परान्नं यस्तु भुंजति
He who eats another's food while the soma is on the trees—
कस्मान्न दीयते नित्यं कस्मादन्नं न दीयते
Why is food not given always? Why is food not given?
भिक्षां वा पुष्कलां वापि हंतकारं द्विजातये
Whether it is alms or abundant food, it should be given to a twice-born who has come.
येनायुतं सहस्रं वा भोजितं स्याद्द्विजन्मनाम् 4.169.
By whom ten thousand or even a thousand twice-born are fed—
वाराणस्यां पुरा पार्थ वणिगापणजीवनः
In Varanasi, O Partha, there once lived a merchant who made his living by trade.
तस्यापणैकदेशे तु मुक्त्वांडं पांडुरच्छवि
In one part of his shop, there was an egg with a pale white shell.
तदंडं वणिजा तेन दृष्टं कारुण्यबुद्धिना
That egg was seen by the merchant, who was moved by compassion.
निर्जगाम दिनैः कैश्चिद्भित्वांडं सर्पपोतकः
After some days, breaking the egg, a young serpent emerged.
लिलिहे घृतभांडानि जिघ्रे च गंधसंचयान्
It licked the vessels of ghee and sniffed the stores of fragrance.
वणिजा रक्ष्यमाणः स स्नेहाच्चाहरहः पुनः
Protected by the merchant out of affection, it was cared for every day.
अथैकस्मिन्दिने गंगां गतः स्नातुं त्रिलोकगाम्
Then, on one day, the merchant went to the Ganga, which flows through the three worlds, to bathe.
व्यवहर्तुं समारब्धं वणिक्पुत्रेण धीमता
The wise son of the merchant had begun to conduct business.
व्यवहाराकुलतया पादयोरंतरेण सः
Due to the confusion of the proceedings, he was caught between his feet.