यत्राण्वपि नरैर्द्दत्तं जप्तं वा सुमहद्भवेत्
Where even a little is given or recited by men, it becomes exceedingly great.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच शृणु पांडव ते वच्मि रहस्यं देवनिर्मितम्
Sri Krishna said: Listen, O Pandava, I will tell you a secret established by the gods.
वैशाखमासस्य तु या तृतीया नवम्यसौ कार्तिकशुक्लपक्षे
The third day of the month of Vaishakha and the ninth day of the bright half of Kartika—
वैशाखस्य तृतीया तु समा कृतयुतेन तु
The third day of Vaishakha is equal to ten million years.
त्रयोदशी नभस्ये तु द्वापरेण समागता
The thirteenth day in the month of Bhadrapada is joined with Dvapara.
एताश्चतस्रो राजेन्द्र युगानां प्रभवाद्यथा
These four, O king, are the beginnings of the ages, as declared.
उपवासस्तपो दानं जपहोमक्रियास्तथा
Fasting, austerity, charity, recitation, and sacrificial rites—
वैशाखस्य तृतीयायां श्रीसमेतं जगद्गुरुम् वस्त्रालंकारसंभारैनैवेद्यै र्विविधैस्तथा
On the third day of Vaishakha, the Lord of the world, accompanied by Sri, is to be worshipped with garments, ornaments, various offerings, and diverse foods.
ततस्तस्याग्रतो धेनुर्लवणस्याढकेन तु 4.101.
Then, in front of him, a cow is to be placed with a measure of salt.
अविचर्मोपरि स्थाप्य कल्पयित्वा विधानतः
Having set it upon an untanned hide, it should be arranged according to the prescribed rite.
श्रीधरः श्रीपतिः श्रीमाञ्छ्रीशः संप्रीयतामिति गोसहस्रं दशगुणं प्राप्नोतीह न संशयः
Reciting, 'May Śrīdhara, Śrīpati, the glorious Lord of prosperity, be pleased,' one attains here, without doubt, the merit of giving a thousand cows multiplied tenfold.
तथैव कार्तिके मासि नवम्यां नक्तभुङ्नरः
Likewise, in the month of Kārtika, on the ninth day, a man who eats only at night—
उमासहायं वरदं नीलकंठमथार्चयेत्
—should worship the boon-giving, blue-throated Lord accompanied by Umā.
धेनुं तिलमयीं दद्यात्पुराणो क्तविधानतः
He should give a cow made of sesame, according to the ordinance stated in the Purāṇas.
यदत्र प्राप्यते पुण्यं पार्थ तत्केन वर्ण्यते
O Pārtha, who can describe the merit that is obtained here?
त्रयोदशी नभसि या कृष्णमस्यां समर्चयेत् भोजयेद्ब्राह्मणान्भक्त्या वेदवेदाङ्गपारगान्
On the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhādrapada, one should worship, and with devotion feed Brāhmaṇas learned in the Vedas and Vedāṅgas.
पितॄनुद्दिश्य दातव्या सवत्सा कांस्यदोहनी
For the sake of the ancestors, a cow with a calf and a bronze milking vessel should be given.
पिता पितामहश्चैव तथैव प्रपितामहः
The father, grandfather, and likewise the great-grandfather—
कृतेनानेन राजेन्द्र यत्पुण्यं प्राप्यते नृभिः 4.101.
O king, the merit that is obtained by men through this act—
पुत्रान्पौत्रान्प्रपौत्रांश्च धनं च महदीप्सितम्
—is the attainment of sons, grandsons, great-grandsons, and the great wealth that is desired.
पञ्चदश्यां च माघस्य पूजयित्वा पितामहम्
On the fifteenth day of Māgha, having worshipped the Grandsire—
नवनीतमयीं धेनुं फलैर्नानाविधैर्युताम् कीर्तयेत्प्रीयतामत्र पद्मयोनिः पितामहः
—one should praise a cow made of fresh butter, adorned with various kinds of fruits, so that the Lotus-born Grandsire may be pleased here.
यत्स्वर्गे यच्च पाताले यच्च मर्त्ये सुदुर्लभम्
Whatever is rare in heaven, in the netherworld, or among mortals—
यानि चान्यानि दानानि दत्तानि सुबहून्यपि
—and whatever other gifts have been given, even if they are many—
अल्पमल्पं हि यः कश्चित्प्रदद्यान्निर्द्धनोपि सन्
Even if someone gives a little, or very little, even if he is poor—
वित्तानुसारं स्वं ज्ञात्वा वित्तवान्पार्थिवोपि वा
—knowing his own means, whether he is wealthy or a king—
भूर्हिरण्यं गृहं वासः शयनान्यासनानि च
The earth, gold, a house, a dwelling, beds, and seats—
एवं दत्त्वा यथाशक्त्या भोजयित्वा द्विजानपि
Thus, having given according to one's ability and having fed even the twice-born,
यत्किञ्चिन्मानसं पापं कायिकं वाचिकं तथा 4.101.
Whatever mental, physical, or verbal sin there may be,
उद्गीयमानो गन्धर्वैः स्तूयमानः सुरासुरैः
While being sung by the Gandharvas and praised by the gods and asuras,