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.
यावन्ति तस्यां रोमाणि वत्सस्य च युधिष्ठिर। तावद्युगसहस्राणि स्वर्लोके महीयते
As many hairs as are on her and on the calf, O Yudhishthira, for that many thousands of ages is one honored in heaven.
सुवर्णनासां यः कृत्वा सखुरां कृष्णधेनुकाम्। तिलैः प्रच्छादितां दद्यात्सर्वरत्नैरलंकृताम्
He who gives a black cow with golden nose-ring and hooves, covered with sesame seeds and adorned with all jewels—
प्रतिग्रहं गृहीत्वा यः पुनर्ददति साधवे। फलानां फलमश्नाति तदा दत्त्वा च भारत
He who, after accepting a gift, gives it again to a worthy person, O Bharata, enjoys the fruit of the fruits, having given thus.
ससमुद्रगुहा तेन सशैलवनकानना। चतुरन्ता भवेद्दत्ता पृथिवी नात्र संशयः
By that act, the earth with its oceans and caves, with its mountains, forests, and groves, up to the four ends, is given—of this there is no doubt.
अन्तर्जानुशयो यस्तु भुञ्जते सक्तभाजनः। यो द्विजः शब्दरहितं संयन्तुस्तारणाय वै
He who eats food placed between the knees, or who partakes from a vessel containing remnants, and the twice-born who recites without sound, are indeed restrained for the purpose of crossing over.
ये पानीयानि ददति तथाऽन्ये ये द्विजातयः। जपन्ति संहितां सम्यक्ते नित्यं तारणक्षमाः
Those who give water, and likewise other twice-born who properly recite the Samhita daily, are capable of delivering others.
हव्यंकव्यं च यत्किंचित्सर्वं तच्छ्रोत्रियोऽर्हति। दत्तं हि श्रोत्रिये साधौज्यलितेऽग्नौ यथा हुतम्
Whatever offerings to gods or ancestors there are, all these are fit for a Shrotriya; for what is given to a Shrotriya is as pure as clarified butter poured into fire.
मन्युप्रहरणा विप्रा न विप्राः शस्त्रयोधिनः। निहन्युर्मन्युना विप्रा वज्रपाणिरिवासुरान्
Brahmins wielding anger as their weapon are not warriors with arms; yet, with their wrath, they strike like Vajrapani against the demons.
धर्माश्रितेयं तु कथा कथिता हि तवानघ। यां श्रुत्वा मुनयः प्रीता नैमिषारण्यवासिनः
This discourse rooted in Dharma has been told to you, O sinless one, which, when heard, brought joy to the sages dwelling in Naimisha forest.
वीतशोकभयक्रोधा विपाप्मानस्तथैव च। श्रुत्वेमां तु कथां राजन्भवन्तीह तु मानवाः
Free from sorrow, fear, and anger, and likewise from sin, O king, those who hear this tale become so in this world.
किं तच्छौचं भवेद्येन विप्रः शुद्धः सदा भवेत्। तदिच्छामि महाप्राज्ञ श्रोतुं धर्मभृतांवर
What is that purity by which a Brahmin is always pure? I wish to hear this, O great sage, foremost among upholders of Dharma.
वाक्शौचं क्रमशौचं च यच्च शौचं जलात्मकम्। त्रिभिः शौचैरुपेतो यः स स्वर्गी नात्र संशयः
Purity of speech, purity of conduct, and that which is purity arising from water—he who possesses these three purities, there is no doubt, attains heaven.
सायं प्रातश्च संध्यां यो ब्राह्मणोऽभ्युपसेवते। प्रजपन्पावनीं देवीं गायत्रीं वेदमातरम्
A Brahmin who serves the twilight rituals morning and evening, reciting the sacred Gayatri, the mother of the Vedas, purifies himself.
स तया पावितो देव्या ब्राह्मणो नष्टकिल्बिषः। न सीदेत्प्रतिगृह्णानो महीमपि ससागराम्
Purified by that divine goddess, the Brahmin becomes free from sin; even if he accepts the earth with its oceans, he does not falter.
ये चास् दारुणा केचिद्ग्रहाः सूर्यादयो दिवि। ते चास्य सौम्या जायन्ते शिवाः शिवतराः सदा
Those harsh planets, some among the Sun and others in the sky, become gentle for him, always auspicious and even more beneficent.
सर्वेनानुगतं चैनं दारुणाः पिशिताशनाः। घोररूपा महाकाया धर्षयन्ति द्विजोत्तमम्
All those fierce, flesh-eating beings of dreadful form and great size follow him and assail the foremost of twice-born.
नाध्यापनाद्याजनाद्वा अन्यायाद्वा प्रतिग्रहात्। दोषो भवति विप्राणां ज्वलिताग्निससा द्विजाः
From teaching, officiating, or accepting gifts unjustly, no fault arises for Brahmins; twice-born are as pure as blazing fire.
दुर्वेदा वा सुवेदा वा प्राकृताः संस्कृतास्तथा। ब्राह्मणा नावमन्तव्या भस्मच्छन्ना इवाग्नयः
Whether poorly versed or well versed, unrefined or refined, Brahmins should not be despised, for they are like fires covered with ashes.
यथा श्मशाने दीप्तौजाः पावको नैव दुष्यति। एवं विद्वानविद्वान्वा ब्राह्मणो दैवतं महत्
Just as fire burning brightly in a cremation ground is not defiled, so too, whether learned or unlearned, a Brahmin is a great divinity.
प्राकरैश्च पुरद्वारैः प्रासादैश्च पृथग्विधैः। नगराणि न शोभन्ते हीनानि ब्राह्मणोत्तमैः
Cities adorned with walls, gates, and various palaces do not shine if they lack eminent Brahmins.