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− | '''The significance of Jala''' | + | == '''The significance of Jala''' == |
− | | |
| All annas are born of jala, water. | | All annas are born of jala, water. |
| In Srlmadbhagavata, Sri Vyasacarya gives a detailed | | In Srlmadbhagavata, Sri Vyasacarya gives a detailed |
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| great glory. They also live a long life and obtain great wealth in this | | great glory. They also live a long life and obtain great wealth in this |
| world. The Mahabharata, describing the | | world. The Mahabharata, describing the |
− | greatness of annadana and jaladana, says: | + | greatness of annadana and jaladana, says: <blockquote>'''||na tasmdt paramam danam''' |
− | | + | kincidsastiti memanah</blockquote><blockquote>'''anndt prdnabhrtastdta pravartante hi''' |
− | '''||na tasmdt paramam danam | + | sarvasah ||</blockquote><blockquote>Dear Yudhisthira, I believe that |
− | kincidsastiti memanah'''
| |
− | | |
− | '''anndt prdnabhrtastdta pravartante hi | |
− | sarvasah ||''' | |
− | | |
− | Dear Yudhisthira, I believe that | |
| there is no dana greater than the dana of food and water; | | there is no dana greater than the dana of food and water; |
| because all beings are indeed born of anna, and from anna | | because all beings are indeed born of anna, and from anna |
− | alone do they obtain | + | alone do they obtain</blockquote><blockquote>sustenance for living.</blockquote><blockquote>'''||tasmddannam param loke sarvalokesu''' |
− | | + | kathyate</blockquote><blockquote>'''anndd balam ca tejasca prdninam''' |
− | sustenance for living. | + | vardhate sadd ||</blockquote><blockquote>That is why anna is said to be the |
− | | |
− | '''||tasmddannam param loke sarvalokesu | |
− | kathyate'''
| |
− | | |
− | '''anndd balam ca tejasca prdninam | |
− | vardhate sadd ||''' | |
− | | |
− | That is why anna is said to be the | |
| highest in this world. The bala, strength, and tejas, vitality, | | highest in this world. The bala, strength, and tejas, vitality, |
− | of all living beings always depends upon anna. | + | of all living beings always depends upon anna.</blockquote><blockquote>'''||anne datte nareneha prdnd dattd''' |
− | | + | bhavantyuta</blockquote><blockquote>'''prdnaddndddhi paramam na ddnamiha''' |
− | '''||anne datte nareneha prdnd dattd | + | vidyate ||</blockquote><blockquote>The one who gives anna indeed gives |
− | bhavantyuta'''
| |
− | | |
− | '''prdnaddndddhi paramam na ddnamiha | |
− | vidyate ||''' | |
− | | |
− | The one who gives anna indeed gives | |
| prana, gives life itself. And what can be a greater dana in | | prana, gives life itself. And what can be a greater dana in |
− | this world than the dana of life? | + | this world than the dana of life?</blockquote><blockquote>'''||annam vdpi prabhavati parity at''' |
− | | + | kurusattama .</blockquote><blockquote>'''nirajdtenajii vina na kincit''' |
− | '''||annam vdpi prabhavati parity at | + | sampravartate</blockquote><blockquote>But, Kurusrestha Yudhisthira, anna |
− | kurusattama .'''
| |
− | | |
− | '''nirajdtenajii vina na kincit | |
− | sampravartate'''
| |
− | | |
− | But, Kurusrestha Yudhisthira, anna | |
| itself is born of water. In fact, nothing can exist without | | itself is born of water. In fact, nothing can exist without |
− | the anna, that is born of water. | + | the anna, that is born of water.</blockquote><blockquote>'''||nirajatasca bhagavdn somo''' |
− | | + | grahaganesvarah</blockquote><blockquote>'''amrtam ca sudha caiva svaha caiva''' |
− | '''||nirajatasca bhagavdn somo | + | svadhd tathd</blockquote><blockquote>'''annausadhyo rnaharaja virudhasca''' |
− | grahaganesvarah'''
| + | jalodbhavah</blockquote><blockquote>'''yatah prdnabhrtdm prdndh sambhavanti''' |
− | | + | visdmpate</blockquote><blockquote>'''devanamamrtam hyannarh naganam ca''' |
− | '''amrtam ca sudha caiva svaha caiva | + | sudha tathd</blockquote><blockquote>'''pitfndm ca svadhd prokta pasundrh''' |
− | svadhd tathd'''
| + | cdpi virudhah''' '''</blockquote> |
− | | |
− | '''annausadhyo rnaharaja virudhasca | |
− | jalodbhavah'''
| |
− | | |
− | '''yatah prdnabhrtdm prdndh sambhavanti | |
− | visdmpate'''
| |
− | | |
− | '''devanamamrtam hyannarh naganam ca | |
− | sudha tathd'''
| |
− | | |
− | '''pitfndm ca svadhd prokta pasundrh | |
− | cdpi virudhah''' | |
− | | |
− | '''Soma and Jala'''
| |
| | | |
| + | == '''Soma and Jala''' == |
| Soma, the god of grahas, celestial | | Soma, the god of grahas, celestial |
− | bodies, is born of water; | + | bodies, is born of water; and so are amrta, sudha, svaha and |
− | | + | svadha; and, rnaharaja, so are anna, foodgrains, osadhis, |
− | and so are amrta, sudha, svaha and | + | herbs, and vlrudhas, the grasses, etc. O protector of the |
− | svadha; and, rnaharaja, | + | people, all living beings are born of and live on these various |
− | | + | annas that are all born of water. Of these, amrta is said to be |
− | so are anna, foodgrains, osadhis, | + | the anna of devas, sudha of the nagas, svadha of the pitrs, |
− | herbs, and vlrudhas, the | + | and vlrudhas of the animals. <blockquote>annameva manusydndm |
− | | + | prdndndhurmanisinah</blockquote><blockquote>tacca sarvam naravydghra pdniydt |
− | grasses, etc. O protector of the | + | sampravartate</blockquote><blockquote>tasmdt paniyaddndd vai na varam |
− | people, all living beings are | + | vidyate kvacit</blockquote> |
− | | |
− | born of and live on these various | |
− | annas that are all born of | |
− | | |
− | water. Of these, amrta is said to be | |
− | the anna of devas, sudha | |
− | | |
− | of the nagas, svadha of the pitrs, | |
− | and vlrudhas of the animals. | |
− | | |
− | annameva manusydndm | |
− | prdndndhurmanisinah | |
− | | |
− | tacca sarvam naravydghra pdniydt | |
− | sampravartate | |
− | | |
− | tasmdt paniyaddndd vai na varam | |
− | vidyate kvacit | |
| | | |
| + | == Jala as Prana == |
| The manlsis, the thinkers of India, | | The manlsis, the thinkers of India, |
− | have described anna as | + | have described anna as the prana, the very life, of men. |
− | | + | And, O lion amongst men, all kinds of anna is born of water. |
− | the prana, the very life, of men. | + | Therefore, there is no dana that is greater than the dana of |
− | And, O lion amongst men, | + | water, giving of nothing else can compare with the giving of |
− | | + | water.<blockquote>tacca dadydnnaro nityam yadicched |
− | all kinds of anna is born of water. | + | bhutimdtmanah</blockquote><blockquote>dhanyam yasasyamayusyam |
− | Therefore, there is no dana | + | jaladdnamihocyate</blockquote><blockquote>satrumscdpyadhi kaunteya sadd |
− | | + | tisthati toyadah</blockquote>Therefore, the one who aspires to |
− | that is greater than the dana of | + | well-being in this world and beyond should always give water |
− | water, giving of nothing else | + | to the thirsty. Jaladana, the giving of water, is said to |
− | | + | endow the giver with wealth,fame and longevity in this world. |
− | can compare with the giving of | + | Kaunteya Yudhisthira, the giver of water always finds himself |
− | water. | + | to be superior to his enemies. |
− | | |
− | tacca dadydnnaro nityam yadicched | |
− | bhutimdtmanah | |
− | | |
− | dhanyam yasasyamayusyam | |
− | jaladdnamihocyate | |
− | | |
− | satrumscdpyadhi kaunteya sadd | |
− | tisthati toyadah | |
| | | |
− | Therefore, the one who aspires to
| + | <blockquote>sarvakdmamavdpnoti Mrtirh caiva hi |
− | well-being in this world
| + | </blockquote><blockquote>sdsvatim pretya cdnantyamasndti pdpebhyasca |
− | | + | pramucyate</blockquote> |
− | and beyond should always give water
| |
− | to the thirsty. Jaladana,
| |
− | | |
− | the giving of water, is said to
| |
− | endow the giver with wealth,
| |
− | | |
− | fame and longevity in this world.
| |
− | Kaunteya Yudhisthira, the
| |
− | | |
− | giver of water always finds himself
| |
− | to be superior to his
| |
− | | |
− | enemies.
| |
− | | |
− | sarvakdmamavdpnoti Mrtirh caiva hi | |
− | sdsvatim | |
− | | |
− | pretya cdnantyamasndti pdpebhyasca | |
− | pramucyate | |
| | | |
| + | == Jaladana: giver of water == |
| He, the giver of water, attains to | | He, the giver of water, attains to |
− | the fulfilment of all his | + | the fulfilment of all his desires and everlasting fame in this |
− | | + | world; and after accomplishing his life here, having been washed of |
− | desires and everlasting fame in this | |
− | world; and after accomplishing | |
− | | |
− | his life here, having been washed of | |
| all his sins, he | | all his sins, he |
| | | |
| enjoys unending pleasures in the | | enjoys unending pleasures in the |
− | worlds beyond. | + | worlds beyond. xliii <blockquote>toyado manujavyaghra svargam gatva |
− | | + | mahadyute</blockquote><blockquote>aksayan samavapnoti |
− | xliii | + | lokanityabravinmanuh</blockquote>O, the shining lion amongst men, the |
− | | + | one who gives water to the thirsty attains to the |
− | | + | immortal lokas on reaching the heavens. This is what Manu has said. |
− | | |
− | toyado manujavyaghra svargam gatva | |
− | mahadyute | |
− | | |
− | aksayan samavapnoti | |
− | lokanityabravinmanuh | |
− | | |
− | O, the shining lion amongst men, the | |
− | one who gives water | |
− | | |
− | to the thirsty attains to the | |
− | immortal lokas on reaching the | |
− | | |
− | heavens. This is what Manu has said. | |