सा तानुवाच किं तन्मे व्रतं दानमथापि वा
She asked them, 'What vow or charity should I undertake?'
आधारभूता भूतानां बह्वपत्या पतिप्रिया
She was the support of beings, blessed with many children, and dear to her husband.
वसिष्ठस्तामुवाचाथ शृणुष्व कथयामि ते
Then Vasiṣṭha spoke to her, 'Listen, I will tell you.'
कृत्वा ताम्रमयीं स्थालीं पलानां पञ्चभिः शतैः
Make a vessel of copper, using five hundred palas in weight.
सर्वशक्तिविहीनस्तु मृन्मयीमपि कारयेत्
But if one is entirely without means, one may even make it of clay.
मुद्गतंदुलनिष्पन्नसुस्विन्नक्षिप्रपूरिताम्
Fill it with well-cooked, soft rice made from mung beans and rice grains.
धौतपार्श्वां धौतकर्णां चर्चितां चन्दनेन च 4,170.
Its sides and rim should be washed clean, and it should be anointed with sandalwood.
आदित्येऽहनि संक्रांतौ चतुर्दश्यष्टमीषु वा
On the day of the sun's transit, or on the fourteenth or eighth lunar day, this should be done.
ज्वलज्ज्वलनपार्श्वस्थैस्तंडुलैः सजलैरपि
With rice grains moistened with water, placed beside blazing fire, this offering is to be made.
त्वं सिद्धिः सिद्धिकामानां त्वं पुष्टिः पुष्टिमिच्छताम्
You are accomplishment for those who seek success; you are nourishment for those who desire strength.
ज्ञातिबंधुसुहृद्वर्गे विप्रे प्रेष्यजने तथा
Among relatives, friends, and groups of well-wishers, as well as among brahmins and servants,
इत्युच्चार्य प्रदातव्या हंडिका द्विजपुंगवे
Having recited this, the vessel should be given to a foremost brahmin.
वसिष्ठवचनं श्रुत्वा सा चकार तथैव तु
Hearing the words of Vasiṣṭha, she acted accordingly.
सा चैषा द्रौपदी पार्थ भवद्भार्याऽभवत्प्रिया
And this Draupadī, O Pārtha, became your beloved wife.
एषा सती शची स्वाहा सावित्री भूररुंधती
She is Satī, Śacī, Svāhā, Sāvitrī, Bhū, and Arundhatī.
अनया या भृता स्थाली तया सर्वमिदं जगत्
By her, the vessel is sustained; by her, this entire world exists.
मैत्रेयात्तदुपश्रुत्य तत्र संहृष्टमानसः 4.170.
Having heard this from Maitreya, his mind became delighted.
अन्नदानप्रसंगेन स्थालीदानमिदं मया
On the occasion of giving food, I have described the gift of the vessel.
स्थालीं विशालवदनां च सतंडुलां च यच्छंति ये मधुरशुल्बमयीं द्विजेभ्यः
Those who give to the twice-born a broad-mouthed vessel filled with rice, made of sweet clay,
इति श्रीभविष्ये महा पुराण उत्तरपर्वणि श्रीकृष्णयुधिष्ठिरसंवादे स्थालीदानविधिवर्णनं नाम सप्तत्युत्तरशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the Śrī Bhaviṣya Mahāpurāṇa, in the Uttaraparvan, in the dialogue between Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Yudhiṣṭhira, the one hundred seventieth chapter named 'Description of the Rite of Giving the Vessel' is concluded.
दासीदानविधिवर्णनम् भक्त्या स्नेहाच्च भवतो यत्रोक्तं केनचित्क्वचित्
Description of the rite of giving a female servant: Out of devotion and affection, wherever it is spoken by someone,
चतुर्णामाश्रमाणां हि गृहस्थः श्रेष्ठ उच्यते
Of the four stages of life, the householder is said to be the best.
पूर्णेंदुबिंबवदनाः पीनोन्नतपयोधराः
With faces like the full moon, with full and high breasts,
जामयो यत्र पूज्यंते रमन्ते तत्र देवताः
Where wives are honored, there the deities delight.
जामयो यानि गेहानि शपंत्यप्रतिपूजिताः
The houses which wives, not properly honored, curse—
अमृतस्येव कुण्डानि सुखानामिव राशयः
They are like vessels of nectar, like heaps of happiness.
श्यामा मंथरगामिन्यः पीनोन्नतपयोधराः
Dark-complexioned, slow-stepping, with full and high breasts,
अहिरण्यमदासीकमल्पान्नाज्यमगोरसम्
Without gold, without a female servant, with little food, ghee, or cow's milk—
अदण्डपाशिकं ग्राममदासीकं च यद्गृहम्
A village without a rod or noose, and a house without a female servant—
विभवाभरणा दास्यो यद्गृहं समुपासते 4.171.
The houses which female servants adorned with wealth attend—