शृणु दानरहस्यानि श्रुतिस्मृत्युदितानि च। छायायां करिणः श्राद्धं तत्कर्म परिवीजितम्। दशकल्पायुतानीह न क्षीयेत युधिष्ठिर
Hear the secrets of giving, as declared in the revealed texts and tradition; the offering made in the shadow of an elephant, fanned by ritual, does not diminish for ten thousand cycles, O Yudhishthira.
जीवनाय समाक्लिन्नं वसु दत्त्वा महीपते। विप्रं तु वासयेद्यस्तु सर्वयज्ञैः स इष्टवान्
By giving wealth soaked for sustenance, O king, and providing a dwelling for a Brahmin, one is considered to have performed all sacrifices.
प्रतिस्रोतश्चित्रवाहाः पर्जन्योऽन्नानुसंचरन्। महाधुरि यथा नावा महापापैः प्रमुच्यते। विषुवे विप्रदत्तानि दधिमध्वक्षयाणि च
Just as the mighty river flows against the current, and clouds distribute food, so, like a great ship, one is freed from great sins; at the equinox, gifts given to Brahmins, such as curd and honey, are inexhaustible.
पर्वसु द्विगुणं दानमृतौ दशगुणं भवेत्। `अब्दे दशगुणं प्रोक्तमनन्तं विषुवे भवेत्
On festival days, giving is doubled; at death, it becomes tenfold; in the year, tenfold is declared, and at the equinox, it becomes infinite.
अयने विषुवे चैवषडशीतिमुखेषु च। चन्द्रसूर्योपरागे च दत्तमक्षयमुच्यते
At the solstices, equinoxes, and at the mouths of the eighty-six days, and during eclipses of the moon and sun, gifts given are said to be inexhaustible.
ऋतुषु दशगुणं वदन्ति दत्तं शतगुणमृत्वयनादिषु ध्रुवम्। भवति सहस्रगुणं दिनस्य राहो- र्विषुवति चाक्षयमश्नुते फलम्
They say that gifts given during the seasons are tenfold; at the beginnings of the seasons, a hundredfold; at the thousandth part of the day of Rahu, and at the equinox, one attains inexhaustible fruit.
नाभूमिदो भूमिमश्नाति राज- न्नायानदो यानमारुह्य याति। यान्यान्कामान्ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददाति तांस्तान्कामाञ्जायमानः स भुङ्क्ते
O king, he who does not give land does not enjoy land; he who does not give a vehicle does not travel by vehicle; whatever desires one gives to Brahmins, those very desires he enjoys when born again.
अग्नेरपत्यं प्रथमं सुवर्णं भूर्वैष्णवी सूर्यसुताश्च गावः। लोकाश्त्रयस्तेन भवन्ति दत्ता यः काञ्चनं गाश्च महीं च दद्यात्
Gold is the first offspring of fire; earth is Vishnu's, cows are the daughters of the sun; by giving gold, cows, and land, one attains the three worlds.
परंहि दानान्न बभूव शाश्वतं भव्यं त्रिलोके भवते कुतः पुनः। तस्मात्प्रधानं परमं हि दानं वदन्ति लोकेषु विशिष्टबुद्धयः
Indeed, there has never been any gift greater or more lasting than charity; what else in the three worlds could be more auspicious? Therefore, those of distinguished wisdom in the world declare charity to be the foremost and highest.
इक्ष्वाकौ संस्तिते राजञ्शशादः पृथिवीमिमाम्। प्राप्तः परमधर्मात्मा सोऽयोध्यायां नृपोऽभवत्
When Ikshvaku passed away, O King, Shashada, a ruler of supreme righteousness, obtained this earth and became king in Ayodhya.
शशादस्य तु दायाद ककुत्स्थो नाम वीर्यवान्। अनेनाश्चापि काकुत्स्थः पृथुश्चानेनसः सुतः
Shashada's heir was the mighty Kakutstha by name; from him came Anenā, and from Anenā, Prithu, son of Anenā.
विष्वगश्वः पृथोः पुत्रस्तस्मादार्द्रश्च जज्ञिवान्। आर्द्रस्य युवनाश्वस्तु श्रावस्तस्तस्य चात्मजः
Vishvagashva was the son of Prithu, and from him was born Ardra; Ardra's son was Yuvanashva, and Shrāvasta was his son.
जज्ञे श्रावस्तको राजा श्रावस्ती येन निर्मिता। श्रावस्तस्य तु दायादो बृहदश्वो महाबलः
King Shrāvastaka was born, by whom Shrāvastī was founded; and Shrāvasta's heir was Brihadashva, of great might.
बृहदश्वस् दायादः कुवलाश्व इति स्मृतः। कुवलाश्वस्य पुत्राणां सहस्राण्येकविंसतिः
Brihadashva's heir was known as Kuvalāshva; Kuvalāshva had twenty-one thousand sons.
सर्वे विद्यासु निष्णाता बलवन्तो दुरासदाः। कुवलाश्वश्च पितृतोगुणैरभ्यधिकोऽभवत्
All were accomplished in the sciences, strong, and unconquerable; and Kuvalāshva surpassed his fathers in virtues.
समये तं तदा राज्ये बृहदश्वोऽभ्यषेचयत्। कुवलाश्वं महाराज शूरमुत्तमधार्मिकम्
At the proper time, Brihadashva anointed Kuvalāshva, the heroic and supremely righteous one, as king, O great king.
पुत्रसंक्रामितश्रीस्तु बृहदश्वो महीपतिः। जगाम तपसे धीमांस्तपोवनममित्रहा
Having transferred his royal glory to his son, the wise king Brihadashva, destroyer of foes, departed to the forest for asceticism.
अथ शश्वाव राजर्षिं तमुदङ्को नराधिप। वनं संप्रस्थितं राजन्बृहदश्वं द्विजोत्तमः
Then, O King, as Brihadashva, the royal sage, set out for the forest, the foremost of Brahmins, Udanka, approached him.
तमुदङ्को महातेजाः सर्वास्त्रविदुषांवरम्। न्यवारयदमेयात्मा समासाद्य पुरोत्तमे
That illustrious Udanka, master of all weapons and of immeasurable self-control, stopped him as he reached the foremost of cities.
भवता रक्षणं कार्यं तत्तावत्कर्तुमर्हसि। निरुद्विग्रा वयं राजंस्त्वत्प्रदाद्वसेमहि
You must provide protection, for that is your duty; let us dwell here without fear, O King, under your guardianship.
त्वया हि पृथिवी राजन्रक्ष्यमाणा महात्मना। भविष्यति निरुद्विग्ना नारण्यं गन्तुमर्हसि
For, O great-souled King, with you protecting the earth, there will be no anxiety; you ought not to go to the forest.
पालन हि महान्धर्मः प्रजानामिह दृश्यते। न तथा दृश्यतेऽरण्ये माभूत्ते बुद्धिरीदृशी
Indeed, the great duty of protecting the people is seen here; not so in the forest—let not such an idea arise in you.
ईदृशो न हि राजेन्द्र धर्मः क्वचन दृश्यते। प्रजानां पालने यत्नः पुरा राजर्षिभिः कृतः
Such a duty, O king of kings, is never seen elsewhere; in former times, royal sages exerted themselves in the protection of their people.
रक्षितव्याः प्रजा राज्ञा तास्त्वं रक्षितुमर्हसि। निरुद्विग्नस्तपस्तप्तुं न हि शक्नोमि पार्थिव
The people must be protected by the king; you ought to protect them. O ruler, I cannot undertake asceticism without freedom from fear.
ममाश्रमसमीपे वै समेषु मरुधन्वसु। समुद्रवालुकापूर्ण उज्जालक इति स्मृतः। बहुयोजनविस्तीर्णो बहुयोजनमायतः
Near my hermitage, on the level plains of Marudhanva, there is a place called Ujjālaka, filled with ocean sand, vast in length and breadth for many yojanas.
तत्र रौद्रो दानवेन्द्रो महावीर्यपराक्रमः। मधुकैटभयोः पुत्रो धुन्धुर्नाम सुदारुणः। अन्तर्भूमिगतो राजन्वसत्यमितविक्रमः
There dwells a fierce lord of the Dānavas, of great strength and valor, named Dhundhu, the dreadful son of Madhu and Kaitabha, who lives underground, O King, possessing immeasurable might.
तं निहत्य महाराज वनं त्वं गन्तुमर्हसि
Having slain him, O great king, you should proceed to the forest.
शेते लोकविनाशाय तप आस्थाय दारुणम्। त्रिदशानां विनाशाय लोकानां चापि पार्थिव
He lies in severe asceticism, intent on the destruction of the worlds, O king, for the ruin of the gods and all beings.
अवध्यो दैवतानां हि दैत्यानामथ रक्षसाम्। नागानामथ यक्षाणां गन्धर्वाणां च सर्वशः। अवाप्यस वरं राजन्सर्वलोकपितामहात्
He is invulnerable to the gods, the demons, the Rākṣasas, the serpents, the Yakṣas, and all the Gandharvas, O king, having obtained this boon from the Grandsire of all worlds.
तं विनाशय भद्रं ते मा ते बुद्धिरतोऽन्यथा। प्राप्स्यसे महतीं कीर्तिं शाश्वतीमव्ययां ध्रुवाम्
Destroy him—may good be yours!—let your mind not turn otherwise; you will attain great and everlasting, undecaying fame.