यथा मां वै साधुवादैः प्रसन्नाः प्रशंसेयुः शिबयः कर्मणा तु। यथा श्येन प्रियमेव कुर्यां प्रशाधि मां यद्वदेस्तत्करोमि
As the virtuous Shibis might praise me with kind words for my actions, so may I do what is pleasing to you, O hawk; instruct me, and I will do as you wish.
ऊरोर्दक्षिणादुत्कृत्य स्वपिशितं तावद्राजन्यावन्मांसं कपोतेन समम् ।। तथा तस्मात्साधु त्रातः कपोतः प्रशंसेयुश्च शिबय कृतं च प्रियं स्यान्ममेति
Cutting flesh from his own right thigh, as much as the pigeon's weight, the king placed it on the scale; thus, the pigeon was saved, the Shibis would praise him, and what was dear to me would be accomplished.
अथ स दक्षिणादूरोरुत्कृत्य स्वमांसपेशीं तुलयाधारयत् ।। गुरुतर एव कपोत आसीत्
Then, cutting flesh from his right thigh, he placed his own flesh on the scale; yet the pigeon was still heavier.
पुनरन्यमुच्चकर्त गुरुतर एव कपोतः ।। एवं सर्वं समधिकृत्य शरीरं तुलायामारोपयामास रतत्तथापि गुरुतर एव कपोत आसीत्
Again he cut off more, but still the pigeon was heavier; thus, having placed his entire body on the scale, even then the pigeon remained heavier.
अथ राजा स्वयमेव तुलामारुरोह ।। न च व्यलीकमासीद्राज्ञ एतद्वृत्तान्तं दृष्टाव त्रात इत्युक्त्वा प्रालीयत श्येनः अथ राजा अब्रवीत्
Then the king himself mounted the scale; and there was no fault in the king. Seeing this event, the hawk vanished, saying, 'You are saved.' Then the king spoke.
कपोतं विद्युः शिवयस्त्वां कपोत पृच्छामि ते शकुने को नु श्येनः। नानीश्वर ईदृशं जातु कुर्या- देतं प्रश्नं भगवन्मे विचक्ष्व
'The Shibis know you as a pigeon, but I ask you, bird, who truly are you as a hawk? No lord would ever do such a thing—O venerable one, explain this question to me.'
वैश्वानरोऽहं ज्वलनो धूमकेतु- रथैव श्येनो वज्रहस्तः शचीपतिः। साधु ज्ञातुं त्वामृषभं सौरथेय नौ जिज्ञासया त्वत्सकाशंप्रपन्नौ
'I am Vaiśvānara, the blazing fire, the smokey-bannered one, and also the hawk, the thunderbolt-wielder, the lord of Śacī; to know you, O bull among men, we came here out of curiosity.'
यामेतां पेशीं मम निष्क्रयाय प्रादाद्भवानसिनोत्कृत्य राजन्। एतद्वो लक्ष्म शिवं करोमि हिरण्यवर्णं रुचिरं पुण्यगन्धम्
'This flesh you gave as ransom for me, O king, cutting it off with a sword—may I make this a mark of blessing for you: golden in color, radiant, and fragrant.'
एतासां प्रजानां पालयिता यशस्वी सुरर्षीणामथ संमतो भृशम्। एतस्मात्पार्श्वात्पुरुषो जनिष्यति कपोतरोमेति च तस्य नाम
'You will be the illustrious protector of these peoples, greatly honored by the sages and gods; from your line a man will be born, called Kapotaroma, from this side.'
कपोतरोमाणं शिबिनौद्भिदं पुत्रं प्राप्स्यसि नृपवृषसंहननं यशोदीप्यमानं द्रष्टासि शूरमृषभं सौरथानाम्
'You will obtain Kapotaroma, son of Śibi, sprung from your line, strong as a bull among kings, shining with fame, and you will see him, O best of the Saurathas.'
श्रुत्वा स राजा राजर्षिरिन्द्रद्युम्नस्य तत्तदा। मार्कण्डेयान्महाभागात्स्वर्गस्य प्रतिपादनम्
Having heard from the blessed Mārkaṇḍeya the account of Indradyumna and his attainment of heaven, the royal sage listened.
युधिष्ठिरो महाराज पुनः पप्रच्छ तं मुनिम्। कीदृशीषु ह्यवस्थासु दत्त्वा दानं महामुने। इन्द्रलोकं त्वनुभवेत्पुरुषस्तद्ब्रवीहि मे
King Yudhiṣṭhira again questioned the sage: 'O great sage, in what conditions, after giving gifts, does a man attain Indra's world? Tell me this.'
गार्हस्थ्येऽप्यथवा बाल्ये यौवने स्थाविरेऽपि वा। यथा फलं समश्नाति तथा त्वं कथयस्व मे
Whether in household life, childhood, youth, or old age, just as one eats fruit equally, so you must tell me likewise.
वृथा जन्मानि चत्वारि वृथा दानानि षोडश। वृथा जन्म ह्यपुत्रस् ये च धर्मबहिष्कृताः
Four births are in vain, sixteen gifts are in vain; birth without a son is indeed in vain, as are those excluded from righteousness.
परपाकं च येऽश्नन्ति आत्मार्थं च पचेत्तु यः। पर्यश्नन्ति वृथा यत्र तदसत्यं प्रकीर्त्यते
Those who eat food cooked by others, or who cook for their own sake, and where others eat in vain, that is declared untrue.
आरूढपतिते दत्तमन्यायोपहृतं च यत्। व्यर्थं तु पतिते दानं ब्राह्मणे तस्करे तथा
What is given to one fallen from a mount, or what is wrongfully taken, is wasted; so too is a gift to a fallen Brahmin or a thief.
गुरौ चानृतिके पापे कृतघ्ने ग्रामयाजके। वेदविक्रयिणे दत्तं तथा वृषलयाजके
A gift given to a false teacher, a sinner, an ingrate, a village priest, a seller of the Vedas, or one who sacrifices for outcastes is wasted.
ब्रह्मबन्धुषु यद्दत्तं यद्दत्तं वृषलीपतौ। स्त्रीजितेषु च यद्दत्तं व्यालग्राहे तथैव च
What is given to those who are Brahmin only in name, to outcastes, to those conquered by women, or to those seized by serpents, is likewise wasted.
परिचारकेषु यद्दत्तं वृथा दानानि षोडश। तमोवृतस्तु यो दद्याद्भयात्क्रोधात्तथैव च
What is given to servants is among the sixteen wasted gifts; and one who gives, shrouded in darkness, out of fear or anger, likewise wastes it.
भुङ्क्ते च दानं तत्सर्वं गर्भस्थस्तु नरः सदा। ददद्दानं द्विजातिभ्यो वृद्धभावेन मानवः
A man always enjoys all gifts even while in the womb; a person should give gifts to the twice-born with reverence for elders.
तस्मात्सर्वास्ववस्थासु सर्वदानानि पार्थिव। दातव्यानि द्विजातिभ्यः स्वर्गमार्गजिगीषया
Therefore, O king, in all conditions, all gifts should be given to the twice-born, desiring the path to heaven.
चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य सर्वस्य वर्तमानाः प्रतिग्रहे। केन विप्रा विशेषेण तारयन्ति तरन्ति च
For all four classes, while receiving gifts, by what special means do the Brahmins save and cross over?
जपैर्मन्त्रैश्च होमैश्च स्वाध्यायाध्यायनेन च। नावं वेदमयीं कृत्वातारयन्ति तरन्ति च
By recitations, mantras, offerings, and study, making a boat of the Vedas, they save and cross over.
ब्राह्मणांस्तोषयेद्यस्तु तुष्यन्ते तस्य देवताः। वचनाच्चापि विप्राणां स्वर्गलोकमवाप्नुयात्
Whoever pleases the Brahmins, the gods are pleased with him; and by the words of the Brahmins, one attains the heavenly world.
अनन्तं पुण्यलोकं तु गन्ताऽसौ तु न संशयः। श्लेष्मादिभिर्व्याप्ततनुर्म्रियमाणोऽविचेतनः
He will go to the endless world of merit, there is no doubt; even when dying, his body afflicted by phlegm and other ailments, unconscious.
ब्राह्णा एव संपूज्याः पुण्यं स्वर्गमभीप्सता। श्राद्धकाले तु यत्नेन भोक्तव्या ह्यजुगुप्सिताः
Brahmins alone should be honored by those desiring merit and heaven; at the time of the śrāddha, they must be fed with care, avoiding the unworthy.
दुर्बलः कुनस्वी कुष्ठी मायावी कुण्डगोलकौ। वर्जनीयाः प्रयत्नेन काण्डपृष्ठाश्च देहिनः
The weak, the evil-natured, the leprous, the deceitful, the hunchbacked, and those with crooked spines should be carefully avoided.
जुगुप्सितं हि यच्छ्राद्धं दहत्यग्निरिवेन्धनम्
For what is unworthy at the śrāddha burns like fire consumes fuel.
ये ये श्राद्धे न पूज्यन्ते मूकान्धबधिरादयः। तेऽपिसर्वे नियोक्तव्या मिश्रिता वेदपारगैः
Those who are mute, blind, deaf, and the like, who are not honored at the śrāddha, should all be appointed, mixed with those learned in the Vedas.
प्रतिग्रहश्च वै देयः शृणु यस् युधिष्ठिर। प्रदातारं तथाऽऽत्मानं यस्तारयति शक्तिमान्
Receiving gifts must indeed be done; listen, O Yudhishthira, for the powerful one who gives saves both the giver and himself.