गर्भस्थैर्जायमानैश्च बालैस्तरुणमध्यमैः
By those in the womb, by those being born, by children, by youths, and by those in their prime—
शुभाशुभफलं तत्र देहिनां प्रविचार्यते
There, the good and bad results for embodied beings are considered.
न तेऽत्र प्राणिनः संति ये न यांति यमक्षयम्
There are no living beings here who do not go to the abode of Yama.
तत्र ये शुभकर्माणः सौम्यचित्ता दयान्विताः ।।।८ ते नरा यांति सौम्येन पथा यमनिकेतनम्
There, those who perform good deeds, whose minds are gentle and endowed with compassion—these people go by a gentle path to the abode of Yama.
यः प्रदद्याद्द्विजेन्द्राणामुपानत्काष्ठपादुकाम्
Whoever gives wooden sandals or shoes to the best of the twice-born,
छत्रदानेन गच्छंति यथा छत्रेण देहिनः
By the gift of an umbrella, people proceed as they do under the protection of an umbrella.
शिबिकाश्वप्रदानेन ततस्तेन सुखं व्रजेत्
By giving a palanquin or a horse, one thereafter attains happiness.
आरामकर्ता छायासु शीतलासु सुखं व्रजेत्
The maker of gardens, in cool and shaded places, attains happiness.
देवायतनकर्ता च यतीनामाश्रमस्य च 4.6.
One who builds temples for the gods or hermitages for ascetics—
देवाग्निगुरुविप्राणां मातापित्रोश्च पूजकाः
Those who honor the gods, fire, teachers, learned Brahmins, and their own mother and father—
द्योतयंतो दिशः सर्वा यांति दीपप्रदायिनः
Those who give lamps, illuminating all directions, proceed onward.
सर्व कामसमृद्धेन पथा गच्छंति गोप्रदाः
Those who give cows travel the path endowed with all fulfilled desires.
आर्तौषधप्रदातारः सुखं यांति निराकुलाः
Those who give medicine to the suffering go happily, free from distress.
पादशौचप्रदानेन शीतलेन पथा व्रजेत्
By giving water for washing the feet, one travels a cool path.
हेमरत्नप्रदानेन याति दुर्गाणि निस्तरन्
By giving gold and jewels, one crosses over difficulties.
सर्वकामसमृद्धात्मा भूमिदानेन गच्छति
By giving land, one attains a self abounding in all fulfilled desires.
इत्येवमादिभिर्दानैः सुखं यांति यमक्षयम्
Thus, by such gifts as these, people happily reach the abode of Yama.
सर्वेषामेव दानानामन्नदानं परं स्मृतम्
Of all gifts, the gift of food is considered supreme.
त्रयाणामपि लोकानां जीवितं ह्युदकं स्मृतम् 4.6.
For the three worlds, water is indeed regarded as life.
अन्नं पानं च गोवस्त्रभूशय्याच्छत्रमासनम्
Food, drink, cows, garments, land, bedding, umbrellas, and seats—
अन्नदानं विशेषेण धर्म राजपुरे नराः
Especially in the city of Dharma, men give the gift of food.
ये पुनः क्रूरकर्माणः पापा दानविवर्जिताः
But those who perform cruel deeds, who are sinful and devoid of giving—
षडशीतिसहस्राणि योजनानामतीत्य यत्
Having crossed eighty-six thousand yojanas—
समीपस्थमिवाभाति नराणां शुभकर्मणाम्
For men of virtuous deeds, it appears as if it is near.
तीव्रकंटकयुक्तेन शर्करानिचितेन च
With sharp thorns and covered with gravel,
क्वचित्पंकेन महता दुरुत्तारैश्च खातकैः
In some places with deep mud, and with difficult pits,
तटप्रपातविष्टंभैः पर्वतैर्वृक्षसंकुलैः
Obstructed by riverbanks and cliffs, and mountains thick with trees,
क्वचिद्विषमगर्तैश्च क्वचिल्लोष्टैः सुपिच्छिलैः
In some places with uneven ditches, elsewhere with slippery clods of earth,
अनेकतापैर्विततैर्व्याप्तं वंशवनं क्वचित् 4.6.
In some places covered by dense groves of bamboo, spread with many clusters,
क्वचिदुष्णांबुना व्याप्तं क्वचित्कारीषवह्निना
In some places filled with hot water, elsewhere with fires of dung,