Garuda Purana

तिलापात्रं सर्पिः पात्रं शय्या सोपस्करा तथा । एतत्सर्वं प्रदातव्यं यदिष्टं चात्मनोऽपि तत्

A vessel of sesame, a vessel of clarified butter, and a bed with its furnishings—these should all be given, even if one desires them for oneself.

अश्वो रथश्च महीषी व्यञ्जनं वस्त्रमेव च । ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रदातव्यं ब्रह्मपूर्वमपि स्वयम्

A horse, a chariot, a queen, ornaments, and even garments should be given to Brahmins, beginning with the recitation of sacred formulas, and by oneself.

दाना न्यन्यान्यपि खग तर्पयेत्स्वीयशक्तितः । प्रायाश्चित्तं कृतं येन दश दानान्यपि क्षितौ

Other gifts also, O Bird, should be offered according to one's ability; by him who has performed expiation, even ten gifts are to be made on earth.

दानं गोर्वैतरण्याश्च दानान्यष्टौ तथापि वा । तिलपात्रं सर्पिः पात्रं शय्यादानं तथैव च

The gift of a cow, of the Vaitaraṇī cow, and eight other gifts as well; a vessel of sesame, a vessel of clarified butter, and the gift of a bed likewise.

पददानं च विधिवन्नासौ निरयगर्भगः । स्वातन्त्र्येणापि लवणदानमिच्छन्ति सूरयः

And the gift of a footpath, properly performed, does not lead to the womb of hell; even the independent gift of salt is desired by the wise.

विष्णुदेहसमुत्पन्नो यतोऽयं लवणो रसः । आतुरस्य यदा प्राणा न यान्ति वसुधातले

Because this taste of salt arises from the body of Viṣṇu, when the life-breaths of a sick person no longer remain on earth—

लवणं च तदा देयं द्वारस्योद्वाटनं दिवः । यानिकानि च दानानि स्वयं दत्तानि मानवैः

Then salt should be given, and the threshold of the door should be smeared; whatever gifts are given by men themselves—

तानितानि च सर्वाणि उपतिष्ठन्ति चाग्रतः । प्रायश्चित्तं कृतं येन साङ्गं खग स वै पुमान्

All those gifts, indeed, stand before him; he who has performed expiation in full, O Bird, that man—

पापानि भस्मसात्कृत्वा स्वर्गलोके महीयते । अमृतं तु गवां क्षीरं यतः पतगसत्तम्

Having reduced sins to ashes, is honored in the world of heaven; the milk of cows, O best of birds, is indeed immortal.

तस्माद्ददाति यो धेनुममृतत्वं स गच्छति । दानान्यष्टौ तु दत्त्वा वै गन्धर्वनिलये वसेत्

Therefore, he who gives a cow attains immortality; and by giving eight gifts, he dwells in the abode of the Gandharvas.

आलयस्तत्र रौद्रे हि दह्यते येन मानवः । छत्रदानेन सुच्छाया जायते पथि तुष्टिदा

There, in the fierce abode, the man who is burned—by the gift of an umbrella, pleasant shade is produced, giving delight on the path.

असिपत्रवनं धारमतिक्रामति वै सुखम् । अश्वारूढश्च व्रजति ददते यद्युपानहौ

He easily crosses the sword-leaf forest; and if one gives sandals, he proceeds mounted on a horse.

भोजनासनदानेन सुखं मार्गे भुनक्ति वै । प्रदेशे निर्जले दाता सुखी स्याद्वै कमण्डलोः

By the gift of food and a seat, he enjoys comfort on the journey; in a place without water, the giver of a water-pot becomes happy.

यमदूता महारौद्राः करालाः कृष्णपिङ्गलाः । न पीडयन्ति दाक्षिण्याद्वस्त्राभरणदानतः

The messengers of Yama, very fierce, terrible, dark and tawny, do not torment out of compassion, because of the gift of garments and ornaments.

तिलपात्रं तु विप्राय दत्तं पत्ररथ ध्रुवम् । नाशयेत्त्रिविधं षापं वाङ्मनः कायसम्भवम्

A vessel of sesame, when given to a Brahmin, O Patraratha, surely destroys the threefold sin arising from speech, mind, and body.

घृतपात्रप्रदाने रुद्रलोके वसेन्नरः । सर्वोपस्करसंयुक्तां शय्यां दत्त्वा द्विजातये

By giving a vessel of ghee, a man dwells in the world of Rudra; by giving a bed equipped with all furnishings to a twice-born—

नानाप्सरोभिराकीर्णं विमानमधिरोहति । षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि क्रीडित्वा शक्रमन्दिरे

He ascends a celestial chariot crowded with various Apsarases; after playing for sixty thousand years in Indra's mansion—

इन्द्रलोकात्परिभ्रष्ट इह लोके नृपो भवेत् । सर्वोपस्करणोपेतं युवानं दोषवर्जितम्

Falling from Indra's world, he becomes a king in this world, endowed with all objects, youthful, and free from faults.

योऽश्वं ददाति विप्राय स्वर्गलोके च तिष्ठति । यावन्ति रोमाणि हये भवन्ति हि खगेश्वर

He who gives a horse to a Brahmin, O Lord of Birds, dwells in the world of heaven for as many years as there are hairs on the horse.

तावतो राजितांल्लोकानाप्नुवन्ति हि पुष्कलान् । चतुर्भिस्तुरगैर्युक्तं सर्वोपकरणैर्युतम्

They indeed attain many splendid worlds, yoked with four horses and furnished with all equipment.

रथं द्विजातये दत्त्वा राजसूयफलं लभ्त्

By giving a chariot to a twice-born, one obtains the fruit of a rājasūya sacrifice.

दुग्धाधिकां च महिषीं नवमेघवर्णां सन्तुष्टतर्णकवलीं जघनाभिरामाम् । दत्त्वा सुवर्णतिलकां द्विजपुङ्गवाय लोकोदयं स जयतीति किमत्र चित्रम्

And what wonder is it that, by giving to a foremost Brāhmaṇa a buffalo cow, yielding abundant milk, dark as a fresh cloud, content with her fodder, pleasing in her haunches, adorned with a golden mark, he attains the rise of worlds?

तालवृन्तस्य दानेन वायुना वीज्यते पथि । कान्तियुक्सुभगः श्रीमान् भवत्यम्बरदानतः

By giving a palm-leaf fan, one is fanned by the wind along the path; by giving a garment, one becomes radiant, fortunate, and prosperous.

रसान्नोपस्करयुतं गृहं विप्राय योर्ऽपयेत् । न हीयते तस्य वंशः स्वर्गं प्राप्नोत्यनुत्तमम्

Whoever offers to a Brāhmaṇa a house equipped with utensils and food, his lineage does not decline and he attains the highest heaven.

भवत्यत्र खगश्रेष्ठ फलगौखलाघवम् । श्रद्धाश्रद्धाविभेदेन दानगौरवलाघवात्

Here, O best of birds, the fruit is light or heavy according to the presence or absence of faith, and the weight or lightness of the gift.

ततो येनाम्बुदानानि कृतान्यत्र रसास्तथा । तदा खग तथाह्लादमापदि प्रतिपद्यते

Then, O bird, by whom water-jars and likewise liquids are given, he obtains such delight in adversity.

अन्नानि येन दत्तानि श्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा । सोऽपि तृप्तिमवाप्नोति विनाप्यन्नेन वै तदा

He who gives food with a mind purified by faith also attains satisfaction, even without food at that time.

आसन्ने मरणे कुर्यात्संन्यासं चेद्विधानतः । आवर्तेत पुनर्नासौ ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते

If, at the approach of death, one properly undertakes renunciation, he does not return again; he is not fit for becoming Brahman otherwise.

आसन्नमरणो मत्यश्चेत्तीर्थं प्रतिनयिते । तीर्थप्राप्तौ भवेन्मुक्तिर्म्रियते यदि मार्गगः । पदेपदे क्रतुसमं भवेत्तस्य न संशयः

If, when death is near, a man is taken to a sacred place, upon reaching the holy place he is liberated; if he dies on the way, at every step it is equal to a sacrifice—of this there is no doubt.