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Anannadana (Samskrit : अनन्नदानम्) or not performing annadana to the needy and emaciated people, leads to dire consequences even in the heavens, is exemplified by the story of King Sveta.  

Anannadana (Samskrit : अनन्नदानम्) or not performing annadana to the needy and emaciated people, leads to dire consequences even in the heavens, is exemplified by the story of King Sveta.

=== अनन्नदानम् ॥ Anannadana ===

=== अनन्नदानम् ॥ Anannadana ===

Sveta was finally relieved of his terrible fate by sage Agastya, who accepted food from his hands and thus freed him of the taint of anannadana. After satiating him, Sveta offered sage Agastya an iridescent necklace in daksina, as a token of gratitude for having accepted his worshipful offering of food. That same flamingly iridescent necklace of Sveta was given by sage Agastya to Srirama, when the latter visited him at his asrama.<ref name=":0">Bajaj, Jitendra and Mandayam, Srinivas. (1996) ''Annam Bahu Kurvita.'' Madras: Centre for Policy Studies Madras</ref>

Sveta was finally relieved of his terrible fate by sage Agastya, who accepted food from his hands and thus freed him of the taint of anannadana. After satiating him, Sveta offered sage Agastya an iridescent necklace in daksina, as a token of gratitude for having accepted his worshipful offering of food. That same flamingly iridescent necklace of Sveta was given by sage Agastya to Srirama, when the latter visited him at his asrama.<ref name=":0">Bajaj, Jitendra and Mandayam, Srinivas. (1996) ''Annam Bahu Kurvita.'' Madras: Centre for Policy Studies Madras</ref>

=== Srirama and Agastya Samvada ===

=== Srirama and Agastya Samvada ===

Srirama, according to the Valmiki Ramayana, visits the asrama of sage Agastya during a journey that he undertakes to establish and protect dharma on earth. As a mark of respect for the visiting king, sage Agastya offers him Sveta's necklace and begins to tell him how he came to acquire that celestial ornament. Sage Agastya says:

Srirama, according to the Valmiki Ramayana, visits the asrama of sage Agastya during a journey that he undertakes to establish and protect dharma on earth. As a mark of respect for the visiting king, sage Agastya offers him Sveta's necklace and begins to tell him how he came to acquire that celestial ornament. Sage Agastya says:

'O gracious and heavenly one, who are you? And why do you partake of such vile food? Who can have such divine attributes and yet be eating of such food? I am perplexed. I cannot conceive that this dead body is the proper food for you. I want to hear the truth behind these strange happenings.'

'O gracious and heavenly one, who are you? And why do you partake of such vile food? Who can have such divine attributes and yet be eating of such food? I am perplexed. I cannot conceive that this dead body is the proper food for you. I want to hear the truth behind these strange happenings.'

=== King Sveta's Story ===

=== King Sveta's Story ===

Upon being questioned by Agastya rishi out of curiosity, King Sveta recalls his story to him. Agastya maharshi continues thus - "Paying heed to my enquiry, couched in proper and pleasant words, that man from the heavens replied with folded hands, thus:

Upon being questioned by Agastya rishi out of curiosity, King Sveta recalls his story to him. Agastya maharshi continues thus - "Paying heed to my enquiry, couched in proper and pleasant words, that man from the heavens replied with folded hands, thus:

'Having placed my younger brother, Suratha, on the throne, I performed tapas on the banks of this lake for a long long time. I was immersed in severe tapas in this great forest for three thousand years, at the end of which I attained to brahmaloka, the heavenly world where Brahma himself resides.<blockquote>तस्य मे स्वर्गभूतस्य क्षुत्पिपासे द्विजोत्तम । बाधेते परमोदार ततो ऽहं व्यथितेन्द्रियः ।।। ७.७८.११।। (Valm. Rama. Uttara. 7.78.11)<ref name=":2">Chaturvedi, Dwarakaprasad Sharma. (1927) Valmiki Ramayana, Vol 10 [https://archive.org/stream/ShrimadValmikiRamayana/10_UttaraKandaUttarardh#page/n217/mode/2up Uttarakand Uttaradha]. Allahabad : Ramnarayan Lal Publisher and Bookseller</ref></blockquote>'However, O Agastya, the first among the twice-born, even in that heavenly world of Brahma I was harassed by persistent thirst and hunger. I was sorely distressed; My hunger and thirst were so great that I felt their pangs tormenting everyone of my sense organs.

'Having placed my younger brother, Suratha, on the throne, I performed tapas on the banks of this lake for a long long time. I was immersed in severe tapas in this great forest for three thousand years, at the end of which I attained to brahmaloka, the heavenly world where Brahma himself resides.<blockquote>तस्य मे स्वर्गभूतस्य क्षुत्पिपासे द्विजोत्तम । बाधेते परमोदार ततो ऽहं व्यथितेन्द्रियः ।।। ७.७८.११।। (Valm. Rama. Uttara. 7.78.11)<ref name=":2">Chaturvedi, Dwarakaprasad Sharma. (1927) Valmiki Ramayana, Vol 10 [https://archive.org/stream/ShrimadValmikiRamayana/10_UttaraKandaUttarardh#page/n217/mode/2up Uttarakand Uttaradha]. Allahabad : Ramnarayan Lal Publisher and Bookseller</ref></blockquote>'However, O Agastya, the first among the twice-born, even in that heavenly world of Brahma I was harassed by persistent thirst and hunger. I was sorely distressed; My hunger and thirst were so great that I felt their pangs tormenting everyone of my sense organs.

=== Flesh as Food ===

=== Flesh as Food ===

<blockquote>गत्वा त्रिभुवनश्रेष्ठं पितामहमुवाच ह । भगवन्ब्रह्मलोको ऽयं क्षुत्पिपासाविवर्जितः ।।। ७.७८.१२ ।। (Valm. Rama. Uttara. 7.78.12)<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>Once, in my distress, I went to Brahma, and said,'Bhagavan! The brahmaloka, this heavenly world of yours, is.said to be free of all hunger and thirst. Then why so I keep suffering from these even here? The consequences of what karmas of mine are thus being visited upon me? And, O Brahma, what is to be my food now? Please tell me what is it that I should eat to satisfy this thirst and hunger that persists in me even in your heavenly world?'. 'Responding to my request; Brahma said:<blockquote>पितामहस्तु मामाह तवाहारः सुदेवज । स्वादूनि स्वानि मांसानि तानि भक्षय नित्यशः ।। ७.७८.१४ ।। (Valm. Rama. Uttara. 7.78.14)</blockquote>'O son of Sudeva, you should eat the delicious flesh of your own corporeal body. That is assigned to be your food. Partake of it everyday.

<blockquote>गत्वा त्रिभुवनश्रेष्ठं पितामहमुवाच ह । भगवन्ब्रह्मलोको ऽयं क्षुत्पिपासाविवर्जितः ।।। ७.७८.१२ ।। (Valm. Rama. Uttara. 7.78.12)<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>Once, in my distress, I went to Brahma, and said,'Bhagavan! The brahmaloka, this heavenly world of yours, is.said to be free of all hunger and thirst. Then why so I keep suffering from these even here? The consequences of what karmas of mine are thus being visited upon me? And, O Brahma, what is to be my food now? Please tell me what is it that I should eat to satisfy this thirst and hunger that persists in me even in your heavenly world?'. 'Responding to my request; Brahma said:<blockquote>पितामहस्तु मामाह तवाहारः सुदेवज । स्वादूनि स्वानि मांसानि तानि भक्षय नित्यशः ।। ७.७८.१४ ।। (Valm. Rama. Uttara. 7.78.14)</blockquote>'O son of Sudeva, you should eat the delicious flesh of your own corporeal body. That is assigned to be your food. Partake of it everyday.

'Bowing to the will of Brahma, I began to partake of the vile food assigned to me. I have been eating the flesh of this corporeal body of mine for many many years. Yet it has remained undiminished, and it has been satisfying my hunger. 'I am thus fallen in great misery. Please release me from this state. You, who have arrived in this forest, can be none else but the sage Agastya. O gracious sage, let all auspiciousness visit you. Please accept this ornament from my hands, and bestow your pleasure on me.

'Bowing to the will of Brahma, I began to partake of the vile food assigned to me. I have been eating the flesh of this corporeal body of mine for many many years. Yet it has remained undiminished, and it has been satisfying my hunger. 'I am thus fallen in great misery. Please release me from this state. You, who have arrived in this forest, can be none else but the sage Agastya. O gracious sage, let all auspiciousness visit you. Please accept this ornament from my hands, and bestow your pleasure on me.

=== Ornament as Dakshina ===

=== Ornament as Dakshina ===

'O sage, this celestial ornament provides gold, jewels, clothes, food and riches of all kinds. By giving this ornament to you I am also giving away all desires and enjoyments. Bhagavan, I beseech you, be pleased upon me and release me from this state.' "

'O sage, this celestial ornament provides gold, jewels, clothes, food and riches of all kinds. By giving this ornament to you I am also giving away all desires and enjoyments. Bhagavan, I beseech you, be pleased upon me and release me from this state.' "

Having narrated this sorrowful story of Sveta in Sveta's own words thus far, sage Agastya tells Srirama that he accepted that celestial ornament from the hands of Sveta. And as soon as he received that auspicious ornament, the corporeal body of Sveta disappeared from the lake without a trace. With the destruction of his body king Sveta was greaty relieved and, suffused with heavenly bliss, he once again ascended to brahmaloka.

Having narrated this sorrowful story of Sveta in Sveta's own words thus far, sage Agastya tells Srirama that he accepted that celestial ornament from the hands of Sveta. And as soon as he received that auspicious ornament, the corporeal body of Sveta disappeared from the lake without a trace. With the destruction of his body king Sveta was greaty relieved and, suffused with heavenly bliss, he once again ascended to brahmaloka.