युधिष्ठिर उवाच दह्यमानाय विप्राय यः प्रयच्छत्युपानहौ। यत्फलं तस्य भवति तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह॥
Yudhishthira said I wish to hear, O grandfather what the merits are of that person who makes the gift of a pair of sandals to a Brahmana whose feet are burning or being scorched by hot sands while walking.
भीष्म उवाच उपानही प्रयच्छेद् यो ब्राह्मणेभ्यः समाहितः। मर्दते कण्टकान् सर्वान् विषमान्निस्तरत्यपि॥
Bhishma said The man who gives to the Brahmanas sandals for the protection of their feet, succeeds in crushing all thorns and gets over every sort of difficulty.
स शत्रूणामुपरि च संतिष्ठति युधिष्ठिर। यानं चाश्वतरीयुक्तं तस्य शुभं विशाम्पते॥ उपतिष्ठति कौन्तेय रौप्यकाञ्चनभूषितम्। शकटं दम्यसंयुक्तं दत्तं भवति चैव हि॥
Such a man, O Yudhishthira, stands over the heads of all his enemies, cars of pure splendour, with mules yoked thereto and made of gold and silver, O monarch, approach him. He who makes a gift of sandals is said to acquire the merit of making the gift of a car with well-broken horses yoked thereto.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच यत् फलं तिलदाने च भूमिदाने च कीर्तितम्। गोदाने चान्नदाने च भूयस्तद् ब्रूहि कौरव॥
Yudhishthira said Tell me fully once more, O grand father, of the merits of gifts of sesame and land, and of kine and food.
भीष्म उवाच शृणुष्व मम कौन्तेय तिलदानस्य यत् फलम्। निशम्य च यथान्यायं प्रयच्छ कुरुसत्तम॥
Bhishma said Hear, O son of Kunti, what the merits are of the gift sesame. Hearing me, do you then, O best of the Kurus, make gifts of sesame according to the rites.
पितॄणां परमं भोज्यं तिलाः सृष्टाः स्वयम्भुवा। तिलदानेन वै तस्मात् पितृपक्षः प्रमोदते॥
Sesame seeds were created by the Self create Brahmana as the best food for the departed manes. Hence, gifts sesame seeds always please the departed manes greatly.
माघमासे तिलान् यस्तु ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रयच्छति। सर्वसत्त्वसमाकीर्णं नरकं स न पश्यति॥
The man who makes gifts of sesame seeds in the month of Magha, to the Brahmanas, has never to see Hell which is full of all dreadful creatures.
सर्वसत्रैश्च यजते यस्तिलैर्यजते पितॄन्। न चाकामन दातव्यं तिलश्राद्धं कदाचन॥
He who worship the departed manes with offerings of sesame seeds is considered as worshipping the deities in all the sacrifices. One should never make a Shraddha with offerings of sesames seeds without entertaining some purpose.
महर्षेः कश्यपस्यैते गात्रेभ्यः प्रसृतास्तिलाः। ततो दिव्यं गता भावं प्रदानेषु तिलाः प्रभो॥
Sesame seeds sprang from the limbs of the great Rishi Kashyapa. Hence in the matter of gifts, they have come to be considered as possessed of great efficacy.
पौष्टिका रूपदाश्चैव तथा पापविनाशनाः। तस्मात् सर्वप्रदानेभ्यस्तिलदानं विशिष्यते॥
Sesame seeds confer both prosperity and personal beauty cleanse the giver of all his sins. It is for this reason that the gift of sesame seeds is superior to the gift of every other article.
आपस्तम्बश्च मेधावी शङ्खश्च लिखितस्तथा। महर्षिौतमश्चापि तिलदानैर्दिवं गताः॥
The highly intelligent Apastamva, Shankha and Likhita, and the great Rishi Gautama, have all gone to the celestial region by having made gifts of sesame seeds.
तिलहोमरता विप्राः सर्वे संयतमैथुनाः। समा गव्येन हविषा प्रवृत्तिषु च संस्थिताः॥
Those Brahmanas who make Homa with offerings of sesame, abstain from sexual intercourse, and are observant of the religion of Acts, are considered as equal to vaccine Havi.
सर्वेषामिति दानानां तिलदानं विशिष्यते। अक्षयं सर्वदानानां तिलदानमिहोच्यते॥
The gift of sesame seeds is superior to all gifts. Amongst all gifts, the gift of sesame is considered as yielding unending merit.
उच्छिन्ने तु पुरा हव्ये कुशिकर्षिः परंतपः। तिलैरग्नित्रयं हत्वा प्राप्तवान् गतिमुत्तमाम्॥
Formerly when Havi (clarified butter) on one occasion could not be procured, the Rishi Kushika, O scorcher of enemies made offerings of sesame seeds to his three sacrificial fires and succeeded in acquiring an excellent end.
इति प्रोक्तं कुरुश्रेष्ठ तिलदानमनुत्तमम्। विधानं येन विधिना तिलानामिह शस्यते॥
I have thus said to you, O chief of the Kurus, what the regulations are about the excellent gift of sesame seeds. It is on account of these regulations that the gift of sesame seeds has come to be considered as fraught with very superior merit.
अत उर्ध्वं निबोधेदं देवानां यष्टुमिच्छताम्। समागमे महाराज ब्रह्मणा वै स्वयम्भुवा॥
After this, listen to what I would say. Once on a time the gods, desirous of making a Sacrifice, went, O king, to the presence of the Self-create Brahman.
देवाः समेत्य ब्रह्माणं भूमिभागे यियक्षवः। शुभं देशमयाचन्त यजेम इति पार्थिव॥
Having met Brahman, desirous as they were of celebrating a sacrifice on the Earth, they begged him for a piece of sacred earth, saying, We want it for our sacrifice.
देवा ऊचुः भगवंस्त्वं प्रभुर्भूमेः सर्वस्य त्रिदिवस्य च। यजेमहि महाभाग यज्ञं भवदनुज्ञया॥
The deities said O illustrious one, you are the lord of all the Earth as also of all the gods! With your permission, O highly blessed one, we wish to perform a sacrifice.
नाननुज्ञातभूमिर्हि यज्ञस्य फलमश्नुते। त्वं हि सर्वस्य जगतः स्थावरस्य चरस्य च॥
The person who has not got by lawful means the earth whereon to make the sacrificial altar, acquires not the merit of the sacrifice he performs.
प्रभुर्भवसि तस्मात्त्वं समनुज्ञातुमर्हसि। ददानि मेदिनीभागं भवद्भ्योऽहं सुरर्षभाः॥
You are the Lord of all the universe consisting of its mobile and immobile objects. Therefore, you should grant us a piece of earth for the sacrifice we wish to make.
ब्रह्मोवाच यस्मिन् देशे करिष्यध्वं यज्ञान् काश्यपनन्दनाः।
Brahman said You foremost of gods, I shall give you a piece of earth whereon, you sons of Kashyapa, you shall celebrate your intended sacrifice.
देवा ऊचुः भगवन् कृतकार्याः स्म यक्ष्महे स्वाप्तदक्षिणैः॥ इमं तु देशं मुनयः पर्युपासन्ति नित्यदा।
The gods said Our wishes, O holy one, have become successful. We shall celebrate our sacrifice even here with large gifts. Let, however, the ascetics always worship this piece of Earth.
ततोऽगस्त्यश्च कण्वश्च भृगुरत्रिर्वृषाकपिः॥ असितो देवलश्चैव देवयज्ञमुपागमन्।
Then there came to that place Agastya, Kanva, Bhrigu, Atri, and Vrishakapi, Asita and Devala.
ततो देवा महात्मान ईजिरे यज्ञमच्युतम्॥ तथा समापयामासुर्यथाकालं सुरर्षभाः।
The great deities then. O you of unfading glory, celebrated their sacrifice. Those foremost of gods finished it in due time.
त इष्टयज्ञस्त्रिदशा हिमवत्यचलोत्तमे॥ पष्ठमंशं क्रतोस्तस्य भूमिदानं प्रचक्रिरे।
Having completed that sacrifice of theirs on the breast of that foremost of mountains, viz., Himavat, the celestials attached to the gift of earth a sixth part of the merit originating from their sacrifice.
प्रादेशमात्रं भूमेस्तु यो दद्यादनुपस्कृतम्॥ न सीदति स कृच्छ्रेषु न च दुर्गाण्यवाप्नुते।
The man who makes a gift of even a span of carth with reverence and faith, has never to suffer from any difficulty and has never to meet with any calamity.
शीतवातातपसहां गृहभूमि सुसंस्कृताम्॥ प्रदाय सुरलोकस्थः पुण्यान्तेऽपि न चाल्यते।
By making a gift of a house that prevents cold, wind, and sun, and that stands upon a piece of clean land, the giver attains to the region of the celestials and does not fall down cven when his merit becomes exhausted.
मुदितो वसति प्राज्ञः शक्रेण सह पार्थिव॥ प्रतिश्रयप्रदानाच्च सोऽपि स्वर्गे महीयते।
By making a gift of a house to live in, the giver, cndued with wisdom, lives, O king, happily in the company of Shakra, Such a person receives great honours in the celestial region.
अध्यापककुले जातः श्रोत्रियो नियतेन्द्रियः॥ गृहे यस्य वसेत् तुष्टः प्रधानं लोकमश्नुते।
That person in whose house a Brahmana of controlled senses, wellread in the Vedas, and belonging by birth to a family of preceptors, lives in contentment, succeeds in attaining to and enjoying a region of great happiness.
तथा गवार्थे शरणं शीतवर्षसहं दृढम्॥ आसप्तमं तारयति कुलं भरतसत्तम।
Likewise, O best of the Bharatas, by giving away a shed for the shelter of kine that can prevent cold and rain and that is substantial in structure, the giver rescues seven generations of his race.
क्षेत्रभूमिं ददल्लोके शुभां श्रियमवाप्नुयात्॥ रत्नभूमिं प्रदद्यात् तु कुलवंशं प्रवर्धयेत्।
By giving away a piece of earth fit for cultivation the giver acquires great prosperity. By giving a piece of earth containing mineral riches, the giver advances his family.
न चोषरां न निर्दग्धां महीं दद्यात् कथंचन॥ न श्मशानपरीतां च न च पापनिषेविताम्।
One should never give away carth that is barren or that is burnt; nor should one give away any earth that is near a crematorium, or that has been possessed and enjoyed by a sinful person before such gift.
पारक्ये भूमिदेशे तु पितॄणां निर्वपेत् तु यः॥ तद्भूमिं वापि पितृभिः श्राद्धकर्म विहन्यते।
When a man performs a Shraddha in honour of the departed manes on earth belonging to another person, the departed manes render both the gift of that earth and the Shraddha itself fruitless.
तस्मात् क्रीत्वा महीं दद्यात् स्वल्पामपि विचक्षणः॥ पिण्डः पितृभ्यो दत्तो वै तस्यां भवति शाश्वतः।
Hence, a wise man should buy even a small piece of earth and make a gift of it, The funeral cake that is offered to one's ancestors on earth that has been duly purchased, becomes endless.
अटवीपर्वताश्चैव नद्यस्तीर्थानि यानि च॥ सर्वाण्यस्वामिकान्याहुन हि तत्र परिग्रहः।
Forests, mountains, rivers, and Tirthas, are considered as having no owners. No earth need be bought here for performing Shraddhas.
इत्येतद् भूमिदानस्य फलमुक्तं विशाम्पते॥ अतः परं तु गोदानं कीर्तयिष्यामि तेऽनघ।
This has been said, O king, on the subject of the merits of making gifts of earth. After this, O sinless one, I shall describe to you the। subject of the gift of kine.
गावोऽधिकास्तपस्विभ्यो यस्मात् सर्वेभ्य एव च।।३७ तस्मान्महेश्वरो देवस्तपस्ताभिः सहास्थितः।
Kine are considered as superior to all the ascetics. And therefore, the divine Mahadeva practised penances in their company.
ब्राह्मे लोके वसन्त्येताः सोमेन सह भारत॥ यां तो ब्रह्मर्षयः सिद्धाः प्रार्थयन्ति परां गतिम्।
Kine, O Bharata, live in the region of Brahman, in the company of Soma. Forming, as it does the highest end, the twiceborn Rishis, crowned with success, try to attain to that very region.
पयसा हविषा दना शकृता चाथ चर्मणा॥ अस्थिभिश्चोपकुर्वन्ति शृङ्गैर्वालैश्च भारत।
Kine benefit human beings with milk, clarified butter, curd, dung, skin, bones, horns, and hair, O Bharata.
नासां शीतातपौ स्यातां सदैताः कर्म कुर्वते॥ न वर्षविषयं वापि दुःखमासां भवत्युत।
Kine do not feel cold or heat. They always work. Even the rainy season cannot affect them at all.
ब्राह्मणैः सहिता यान्ति तस्मात् पारमकं पदम्॥ एकं गोब्राह्मणं तस्मात् प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः।
And since kine attain to the highest end, in the company of Brahmanas, therefore do the wise say that kine and Brahmanas are equal.
रन्तिदेवस्य यज्ञे ता: पशुत्वेनोपकल्पिताः॥ अतश्चर्मण्वती राजन् गोचर्मभ्यः प्रवर्तिता।
Formerly king Rantideva celebrated a grand sacrifice in which an immense number of kine were offered up and killed. From the juice that was secreted by the skins of the slain animals, a river was formed that passed by the name of Charmanvati.
पशुत्वाच्च विनिर्मुक्ताः प्रदानायोपकल्पिता:॥ ता इमा विप्रमुख्येभ्यो यो ददाति महीपते। निस्तरेदापदं कृच्छ्रां विषमस्थोऽपि पार्थिव॥ गवां सहस्रदः प्रेत्य नरकं न प्रपद्यते।
Kine no longer are animals fit for sacrifice. They now are animals fit for gift. That king who presents kine to foremost of Brahmanas, O king, is sure to get over every danger even if he falls into it. The man who presents a thousand kine has not to go to hell,
सर्वत्र विजयं चापि लभते मनुजाधिप॥ अमृतं वै गवां क्षीरमित्याह त्रिदशाधिपः।
Such a person, O king, wins victory everywhere. The very king of the celestials had said that the milk of kine is nectar.
तस्माद् ददाति यो धेनुममृतं स प्रयच्छति॥ अग्नीनामव्ययं ह्येतद्धौम्यं वेदविदो विदुः।
Therefore, one who presents a cow is considered as making a gift of nectar. Persons, wellread in the Vedas, have declared that the clarified butter manufactured from cow's milk, is the very best of all libations poured upon the sacrificial fire.
तस्माद् ददाति यो धेनुं स हौम्यं सम्प्रयच्छति॥ स्वर्गो वै मूर्तिमानेष वृषभं यो गवां पतिम्। विप्रे गुणयुते दद्यात् स वै स्वर्गे महीयते॥ प्राणा वै प्राणिनामेते प्रोच्यन्ते भरतर्षभ।
Therefore, the man, who presents a cow, is considered as making a gift of a libation for sacrifice. A bull is the embodiment of Heaven. He who makes the gift of a bull to a qualified Brahmana, receives great honours in the celestial region. Kine, O chief of Bharata's race, are said to be the vital airs of living creatures.
तस्माद् ददाति यो धेनुं प्राणानेष प्रयच्छति॥ गावः शरण्या भूतानामिति वेदविदो विदुः।
Therefore, the man who makes the gift of a cow, is said to make the gift of vital airs. Persons, conversant with the Vedas, have said that kine are the great refuge of living creatures.
तस्माद् ददाति यो धेनुं शरणं सम्प्रयच्छति॥ न वधार्थं प्रदातव्या न कीनाशे न नास्तिके। गोजीविने न दातव्या तथा गौर्भरतर्षभ॥
The man, who makes the gift of a cow, is considered as making the gifts of what is the high refuge of all creatures. The cow should never be given away for slaughter; nor should the cow be given to a tiller of the soil; nor should the cow be given away to an atheist. The cow should not also, chief of the Bharatas, be given to one who se occupations is the keep of kine.
ददत् स तादृशानां वै नरो गां पापकर्मणाम्। अक्षयं नरकं यातीत्येवमाहुर्महर्षयः॥
The wise have said that the person, who gives away the cow to any of such sinful persons, has to sink in eternal Heli.
न कृशां नापवत्सां वा वथ्यां रोगान्वितां तथा। न व्यङ्गां न परिश्रान्तां दद्याद् गां ब्राह्मणाय वै॥
One should never give to a Brahmana a cow that is lean, or that produces dead calves, or that is barren, or that is diseased, or that is defective of limb, or that is worn out with toil.
दशगोसहस्रदो हि शक्रेण सह मोदते। अक्षयाँल्लभते लोकान् नरः शतसहस्रशः॥
The man, who gives away ten thousand kine, attains to Heaven and sports in bliss in the company of Indra. The man, who makes gifts of kine by hundred thousands, wins many regions of eternal happiness.
इत्येतद् गोप्रदानं च तिलदानं च कीर्तितम्। तथा भूमिप्रदानं च शृणुष्वाने च भारत॥
Thus have I recited to you the merits of the gift of kine and of sesame, as also of the gift of earth. Listen now to me as I describe to you the gift of food, O Bharata.
अन्नदानं प्रधानं हि कौन्तेय परिचक्षते। अन्नस्य हि प्रदानेन रन्तिदेवो दिवं गतः॥
The gift of food, O son of Kunti, is considered as a very superior gift. Formerly king Rantideva ascended to the celestial region by having made gifts of food.
श्रान्ताय क्षुधितायानं यः प्रयच्छति भूमिपः। स्वायम्भुवं महत् स्थानं स गच्छति नराधिप॥
That king, who makes a gift of food to one who is toil-worn and hungry, acquires the regions of supreme happiness belonging to the Self-create.
न हिरण्यैर्न वासोभिर्नान्यदानेन भारत। प्राप्नुवन्ति नराः श्रेयो यथा ह्यन्नप्रदाः प्रभो॥
Men cannot, by gifts of gold and dresses and of other things, win that happiness which givers of food succeed in wining, O you of great power.
अन्नं वै प्रथमं द्रव्यमन्नं श्रीश्च परा मता। अन्नात् प्राणः प्रभवति तेजो वीर्यं बलं तथा॥
Food is, indeed, the first article. Food is considered as the highest prosperity. It is from food that life originates as also energy and prowess and strength.
सद्यो ददाति यश्चान्नं सदैकाग्रमना नरः। न स दुर्गाण्यवाप्नोतीत्येवमाह पराशरः॥
He, who always makes gifts of food, with attention, to the righteous, never suffers any distress. This has been said by Parashara.
अर्चयित्वा यथान्यायं देवेभ्योऽन्नं निवेदयेत्। यदन्ना हि नरा राजंस्तदन्नास्तस्य देवताः॥
Having adored the deities duly food should be first dedicated to them. It has been said, O king that the kind of food that is taken by particular men is taken also by the gods those men worship.
कौमुदे शुक्लपक्षे तु योऽन्नदानं करोत्युत। स संतरति दुर्गाणि प्रेत्य चानन्त्यमश्नुते॥
That man, who makes gifts of food in light half of the month of Kartika, succeeds in getting over every difficulty here and acquires endless happiness hereafter.
अभुक्त्वातिथये चान्नं प्रयच्छेद् यः समाहितः। स वै ब्रह्मविदां लोकान् प्राप्नुयाद् भरतर्षभ॥
That man, who makes a gift of food to a hungry guest arrived at his house, acquires all those regions, O chief of Bharata's race, that are reserved for persons acquainted with Brahman.
सुकृच्छ्रामापदं प्राश्चानदः पुरुषस्तरेत्। पापं तरति चैवेह दुष्कृतं चापकर्षति॥
The man, who makes gifts of food, is sure to get over every difficulty and distress. Such a person gets over every sin and purges himself of every evil act.
इत्येदन्नदानस्य तिलदानस्य चैव ह। भूमिदानस्य च फलं गोदानस्य च कीर्तितम्॥
I have thus described to you the merits of making gifts of food, of sesame, of earth, and of kine. person gets over every sin and purges himself of every evil act.
इत्येदन्नदानस्य तिलदानस्य चैव ह। भूमिदानस्य च फलं गोदानस्य च कीर्तितम्॥
I have thus described to you the merits of making gifts of food, of sesame, of earth, and of kine.