न वेदविदुषां कोट्या लभ्यते चेह तत्फलम्
Even with a crore of Veda-knowers, the fruit is not obtained here.
तस्माच्छ्राद्धे विशेषेण पुण्येषु दिवसेषु च
Therefore, especially at śrāddha and on auspicious days.
असंयतः संयतो वा सर्वावस्थां गतोपि वा
Whether uncontrolled or controlled, or even having attained any state.
संसर्गाद्वापि वा लोभाद्भोजकं यस्तु भोजयेत् 1.172.
Or even through association or greed, whoever feeds the eater.
तस्मान्मान्यश्च पूज्यश्च रक्षणीयश्च सर्वदा
Therefore, he should always be honored, worshipped, and protected.
नाममात्रप्रयत्नोऽपि यदि स्याद्भोजको रवेः
Even if only with the effort of naming, if one is a feeder of the sun.
गृहे श्राद्धस्य यत्पुण्यमरण्ये तच्छताधिकम्
The merit gained from a śrāddha performed at home is a hundred times greater when performed in the forest.
दत्त्वा तु भोजके सौम्यं ह्यासनं सपरिच्छदम्
After giving the food server a gentle seat along with its accessories,
विमले वाससी दत्त्वा भोजकाय महीपते
Having given pure garments to the food server, O King,
दत्त्वा तु लोमशां राजन्भोजकाय शुभां बृहत्
And having given a fine, large woolen cloth to the food server, O King,
शंखं ददाति यो भक्त्या तथा दिव्ये च पादुके
Whoever gives, with devotion, a conch and also divine sandals,
लिखापयति यो भक्त्या पुराणेन तु पुस्तकम्
Whoever, with devotion, has a Purāṇa written as a book,
भवेदिहागतः श्रीमान्सुखाढ्यो वेदपारगः
He becomes prosperous, wealthy, and accomplished in the Vedas in this very life.
तत्सूर्यो भोजकः सोत्र भोजकः सूर्य एव हि 1.172.
The food server is the sun here; indeed, the food server is the sun himself.
यद्यद्यस्योपयुज्येत देयं तत्तस्य यत्नतः
Whatever is used by anyone should be given to him with care.
व्याख्याने सौरधर्मस्य कृत्वा आमलकं महत्
In the explanation of the solar dharma, having given a large āmalaka fruit,
शोभितं माल्यगन्धैस्तु सूर्यस्य साधनं महत् सूर्यवत्सौरधर्मे च तुल्यमेतद्द्वयं वचः
Adorned with garlands and fragrances, it is a great offering to the sun; in the solar dharma, it is equal to both—this is the statement.
य एवं न्यायतो वक्ति सौरधर्मं शृणोति च वदंत्यन्ये पिबंत्यन्ये सर्वे ते फलभागिनः
Whoever speaks the solar dharma rightly and listens to it, others recite it, others drink it—all of them share in the fruits.
तस्मादेवंविधो धर्मो वाचकैश्च विदुर्बुधाः
Therefore, such a dharma is known by the wise through those who recite it.
इति श्रीभविष्ये महापुराणे ब्राह्मे पर्वणि सप्तमीकल्पे सौरधर्मे द्विसप्तत्युत्तरशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Bhaviṣya Mahāpurāṇa, in the Brāhma Parva, in the Saptamīkalpa, this is the seventy-second chapter on solar dharma.
सौरधर्मवर्णनम् समासात्कथितं ब्रह्मन्विस्तरेण प्रकीर्तय
Description of the solar dharma.
त्वत्समो नास्ति लोकेऽस्मिन्सौरः पार्थिवसत्तम
O best of kings, there is none equal to you in this world regarding the solar dharma.
कीर्तयाम्यथ तं पुण्यं संवादं पापनाशनम्
Now I shall proclaim that merit, the dialogue which destroys sin.
सुखासीनं पुरा राजन्नरुणं सूर्यसारथिम्
Once, O King, Aruṇa, the charioteer of the sun, was seated comfortably.
धर्माणामुत्तमं धर्मं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्
The highest of dharmas among all dharmas is that which destroys all sins.
श्रोतुकामोऽसि यत्पुत्र सौरधर्ममनुत्तमम्
You desire to hear, O son, the supreme solar dharma.
शृणु त्वं कीर्तयाम्येष सुखोपायं महत्फलम्
Listen, I shall proclaim to you this easy means which yields great fruit.
अज्ञानार्णवमग्नानां सर्वेषां प्राणिनामयम्
This is for all living beings who are immersed in the ocean of ignorance.
ये स्मरंति रविं भक्त्या कीर्तयंति च ये खग
Those who remember the Sun with devotion and those who praise the bird-king—
आत्मद्रोहः कृतस्तेन जातेनेह खगाधिप 1.173.
By him who is born here, O lord of birds, self-harm has been committed.