धान्यं श्रमेणार्जितवित्तसंचितं विप्रे सुशीले प्रतियच्छते यः। वसुंधरा तस्य भवेत्सुतुष्टा धारां वसूनां प्रतिमुञ्चतीव
He who gives to a virtuous Brahmin grain acquired through toil and wealth honestly gathered—the earth herself is well-pleased with him and seems to shower streams of riches.
अन्नदाः प्रथमं यान्ति सत्यवाक्यदनन्तरम्। अयाचितप्रदाता च समं यान्ति त्रयो जनाः
Those who give food go first, followed by those who speak the truth; and those who give unasked—these three proceed together.
कौतूहलसमुत्पन्नः पर्यपृच्छद्युधिष्ठिरः। मार्कण्डेयं महात्मानं पुनरेव सहानुजः
Then, filled with curiosity, Yudhishthira questioned the great-souled Markandeya once again, together with his brothers.
यमलोकस्य चाध्वानमन्तरं मानुषस्य च। कीदृशं किंप्रमाणं वा कथं वा तन्महामुने। तरन्ति पुरुषाश्चैव केनोपायेन शंस मे
O great sage, what is the path to Yama’s realm and to the world of men? What is it like, what is its measure, and how does one cross it? Tell me by what means people traverse it.
सर्वगुह्यतनं प्रश्नं पवित्रमृषिसंस्तुतम्। कथयिष्यामि ते राजन्धर्मं धर्मभृतांवर
O king, I shall tell you this most secret, pure, and sage-praised question—the dharma, O best of the righteous.
षडशीतिसहस्राणि योजनानां नराधिप। यमलोकस्य चाध्वानमन्तरं मानुषस्य च
O ruler of men, the distance between the world of men and the realm of Yama is eighty-six thousand yojanas.
आकाशं तदपानीयं घोरं कान्तारदर्शनम्। न तत्र वृक्षच्छाया वा पानीनं केतनानि च
That path is sky-like, waterless, and dreadful, with the appearance of a desolate wilderness; there is no shade of trees nor shelters for water-bearers.
विश्रमेद्यत्र वै श्रान्तः पुरुषोऽध्वनि कर्शितः। नीयते यमदूतैस्तु यमस्वाज्ञाकरैर्बलात्
There, a man, weary and exhausted on the journey, finds no place to rest; he is forcibly led by Yama’s messengers, who act according to Yama’s command.
नराः स्त्रियस्तथैवान्ये पृथिव्यां जीवसंज्ञिताः। ब्रह्मणेभ्यः प्रदानानि नानारूपाणि पार्थिव
Men, women, and others known as living beings on earth, O king, go bearing various gifts to Brahmins.
हयादीनां प्रकृष्टानि तेऽध्वानं यान्ति वै नराः। सन्निवार्यातपं यानति च्छत्रेणैव हि च्छत्रदाः
Those who have given horses and the like travel that path with ease; those who have given umbrellas proceed sheltered from the sun by umbrellas.
तृप्ताश्चैवान्नदातारो ह्यतृप्ताश्चाप्यनन्नदाः। वस्त्रिणो वस्त्रदा यान्ति अवस्त्रा यान्त्यवस्त्रदाः
Those who gave food go satisfied, while those who did not give food go unsatisfied; those who gave garments go clothed, while those who did not give garments go unclothed.
हिरण्यदाः सुखं यान्ति पुरुषास्त्वभ्यलंकृताः। भूमिदास्तुसुखं यान्ति सर्वैः कामैः सुतर्पिताः
Those who gave gold travel happily, adorned with ornaments; those who gave land travel happily, fully satisfied with all desires.
यान्ति चैवापरिक्लिष्टा नरा सस्यप्रदावकाः। नराः सुखतरं यान्ति विमानेषु गृहप्रदाः
Those who gave crops travel untroubled; those who gave houses travel even more happily in celestial chariots.
पानीयदा ह्यतृषिताः प्रहृष्टमनसो नराः। पन्थानं द्योतयन्तश्च यान्ति दीपप्रदाः सुखम्
Those who gave water go with unthirsty, joyful hearts; those who gave lamps travel happily, illuminating the path.
गोप्रदास्तु सुखं यान्ति निर्मुक्ताः सर्वपातकैः। विमानैर्हंससंयुक्तैर्यान्ति मासोपवासिनः
Those who gave cows travel happily, freed from all sins; those who fasted for a month travel in celestial vehicles yoked with swans.
तथा बर्हिप्रयुक्तैश्च षष्ठरात्रोपवासिनः। त्रिरात्रं क्षपते यस्तु एकभक्तेन पाण्डव
Likewise, those who fasted for six nights travel in vehicles yoked with birds; and he, O Pandava, who fasts for three nights with one meal a day, crosses over.
अन्तरा चैव नाश्नाति तस्य लोका ह्यनामयाः। पानीयस्य गुणा दिव्याः प्रेतलोकसुखावहाः
And if he does not eat in between, his worlds are free from affliction; the qualities of the water are divine, bringing happiness in the world of the departed.
तत्र पुष्पोदका नाम नदी तेषां विधीयते। शीतलं सलिलं तत्रपिबन्ति ह्यमृतोपमम्
There, for them, a river called Pushpodaka is established; there they drink cool water, like nectar.
ये चदृष्कृतकर्माणः पूयं तेषां विधीयते। एवं नदी महाराज सर्वकामप्रदा हि सा
And for those whose actions are pure, pure water is ordained for them; thus, O great king, that river grants every desire.
तस्मात्त्वमपि राजेन्द्र पूजयैनान्यथाविधि। अध्वनिं क्षीणगात्रश्च पथि पांशुसमन्वितः
Therefore, O king of kings, you too should honor them according to the proper rule, weary in body and covered with dust on the road.
पृच्छते ह्यन्नदातारं गृहमायाति चाशया। तं पूजयाथ यत्नेन सोऽतिथिर्ब्राह्यणश्च सः
He asks for the giver of food and comes to the house with hope; honor him with effort, for he is both guest and Brahmana.
तं यान्तमनुगच्छन्ति देवाः सर्वे सवासवाः। तस्मिन्संपूजिते प्रीता निराशा यान्त्यपूजिते
All the gods, along with Indra, follow him as he departs; when he is honored, they are pleased, but if not, they leave disappointed.
तस्मात्त्वमपि राजेन्द्र पूजयैनं यथाविधि। एतत्ते शतशः प्रोक्तं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि
Therefore, O king of kings, you too should honor him according to the proper rule; this has been told to you hundreds of times—what more do you wish to hear?
पुनः पुनरहं श्रोतुं कथां धर्मसमाश्रयाम्। पुण्यामिच्छामि धर्मज्ञ कथ्यमानां त्वया विभो
Again and again I wish to hear stories grounded in righteousness, O knower of dharma; I desire to hear the holy tales you narrate.
धर्मान्तरं प्रति कथां कथ्यमानां मया नृप। सर्वपापहरां नित्यं शृणुष्वावहितो मम
Hear with attention, O king, the story I will now tell about another dharma, which always removes all sins.
कपिलायां तु दत्तायां यत्फलंज्येष्ठपुष्करे। तत्फलंभरतश्रेष्ठ विप्राणां पादधावने
The fruit obtained by giving a Kapila cow at the sacred Jyeshtha Pushkara is the same, O best of Bharatas, as that from washing the feet of Brahmanas.
द्विजपादोदकक्लिन्ना यावत्तिष्ठति मेदिनी। तावत्पुष्करपर्णेन पिबन्ति पितरो जलम्
As long as the earth remains moistened by the water from the feet of twice-born ones, so long do the ancestors drink water from a lotus leaf.
स्वागतेनाग्नयस्तृप्ता आसनेन शतक्रतुः। पितरः पादशौचेन अन्नाद्येन प्रजापतिः
By a hospitable welcome, the fires are satisfied; by a seat, Indra is pleased; by washing the feet, the ancestors; and by food, Prajapati.
यावद्वत्सस्य पादौ द्वौ शिरश्चैव प्रदृश्यते। तस्मिन्काले प्रदातव्या प्रयतेनान्तरात्मना
As long as the two feet and the head of the calf are visible, at that time, with inner effort, the gift should be made.
अन्तरिक्षगतो वत्सो यावद्योन्यां प्रदृश्यते। तावद्गौः पृथिवी ज्ञेया यावद्गर्भं न मुञ्चति
As long as the calf, moving through the air, is seen in the womb, so long is the cow considered to be of the earth, until she releases her calf.