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== The significance of Jala ==

== The significance of Jala ==

All annas are born of jala, water. In Srlmadbhagavata, Sri Vyasacarya gives a detailed description of the various annas in the context of prthvidohana, the milking of the earth, in the story of Prthu. And, jala is the source of all anna; in fact, ap, water stands for soma through which all anna obtains the [http://ruralict.cse.iitb.ac.in/wiki/index.php?title=Jala&venotify=created&veaction=edit necessary] nourishment for growth. That is why the greatness of annadana and jaladana, of the giving of food and water, is superior to all others. The danavlras,the ones who give food and water to others, attain to the best of lokas after their death and achieve great glory. They also live a long life and obtain great wealth in this world. The Mahabharata, describing the greatness of annadana and jaladana, says:<blockquote>na tasmdt paramam danam kincidsastiti memanah |"</blockquote>

All annas are born of jala, water. In Srlmadbhagavata, Sri Vyasacarya gives a detailed description of the various annas in the context of prthvidohana, the milking of the earth, in the story of Prthu. And, जल || jala is the source of all anna; in fact, आपः || apa (water) stands for सोम || soma through which all अन्न || anna obtains the necessary nourishment for growth. That is why the greatness of annadana and jaladana, of the giving of food and water, is superior to all others. The danavlras,the ones who give food and water to others, attain to the best of lokas after their death and achieve great glory. They also live a long life and obtain great wealth in this world. The Mahabharata, describing the greatness of annadana and jaladana, says:<blockquote>na tasmdt paramam danam kincidsastiti memanah |"</blockquote>

<blockquote>anndt prdnabhrtastdta pravartante hi sarvasah ||"</blockquote>Dear Yudhisthira, I believe that there is no dana greater than the dana of food and water; because all beings are indeed born of anna, and from anna alone do they obtain sustenance for living.<blockquote>tasmddannam param loke sarvalokesu kathyate |"</blockquote><blockquote>anndd balam ca tejasca prdninam vardhate sadd ||"</blockquote>That is why anna is said to be the highest in this world. The bala, strength, and tejas, vitality, of all living beings always depends upon anna.<blockquote>anne datte nareneha prdnd dattd bhavantyuta |"</blockquote><blockquote>prdnaddndddhi paramam na ddnamiha vidyate ||"</blockquote>The one who gives anna indeed gives prana, gives life itself. And what can be a greater dana in this world than the dana of life?<blockquote>annam vdpi prabhavati parity at kurusattama |"</blockquote><blockquote>nirajdtenajii vina na kincit sampravartate ||"</blockquote>But, Kurusrestha Yudhisthira, anna itself is born of water. In fact, nothing can exist without the anna, that is born of water.<blockquote>nirajatasca bhagavdn somo grahaganesvarah |"</blockquote><blockquote>amrtam ca sudha caiva svaha caiva svadhd tathd"</blockquote><blockquote>annausadhyo rnaharaja virudhasca jalodbhavah ||"</blockquote><blockquote>yatah prdnabhrtdm prdndh sambhavanti visdmpate |"</blockquote><blockquote>devanamamrtam hyannarh naganam ca sudha tathd |"</blockquote><blockquote>pitfndm ca svadhd prokta pasundrh cdpi virudhah ||  "</blockquote>

<blockquote>anndt prdnabhrtastdta pravartante hi sarvasah ||"</blockquote>Dear Yudhisthira, I believe that there is no dana greater than the dana of food and water; because all beings are indeed born of anna, and from anna alone do they obtain sustenance for living.<blockquote>tasmddannam param loke sarvalokesu kathyate |"</blockquote><blockquote>anndd balam ca tejasca prdninam vardhate sadd ||"</blockquote>That is why anna is said to be the highest in this world. The bala, strength, and tejas, vitality, of all living beings always depends upon anna.<blockquote>anne datte nareneha prdnd dattd bhavantyuta |"</blockquote><blockquote>prdnaddndddhi paramam na ddnamiha vidyate ||"</blockquote>The one who gives anna indeed gives prana, gives life itself. And what can be a greater dana in this world than the dana of life?<blockquote>annam vdpi prabhavati parity at kurusattama |"</blockquote><blockquote>nirajdtenajii vina na kincit sampravartate ||"</blockquote>But, Kurusrestha Yudhisthira, anna itself is born of water. In fact, nothing can exist without the anna, that is born of water.<blockquote>nirajatasca bhagavdn somo grahaganesvarah |"</blockquote><blockquote>amrtam ca sudha caiva svaha caiva svadhd tathd"</blockquote><blockquote>annausadhyo rnaharaja virudhasca jalodbhavah ||"</blockquote><blockquote>yatah prdnabhrtdm prdndh sambhavanti visdmpate |"</blockquote><blockquote>devanamamrtam hyannarh naganam ca sudha tathd |"</blockquote><blockquote>pitfndm ca svadhd prokta pasundrh cdpi virudhah ||  "</blockquote>