स्वल्पामपि महीन्दत्त्वा विष्णुसायुज्यमान्पुयात्
By giving even a little land, one attains union with Vishnu.
दत्त्वा लभेत गङ्गायां त्रिरात्रस्नानजं फलम्
By giving, one obtains the fruit of bathing in the Ganges for three nights.
द्रोणिकां पृथिवीं दत्त्वा यत्फलं लभते शृणु
Hear what fruit is obtained by giving a plot of land the size of a trough.
कृत्वा यत्फलमान्पोति तदाप्नोति स पुष्कलम्
Whatever fruit is gained by performing, that is obtained in abundance.
तस्य पुण्यं प्रवक्ष्यामि वदतो मे निशामय
I will declare its merit; listen to my words.
विधाय जाह्नवीतीरे पत्फलं तल्लभेद्धुवम्
By giving on the bank of the Jahnavi, one surely attains that fruit.
सर्वपापप्रशमनमपवर्गफलप्रदम्
It removes all sins and bestows the fruit of liberation.
यच्छुत्वा श्रद्धया युक्तो भूमिदानफलं लभेत्
Whoever hears it with faith attains the merit of gifting land.
दरिद्रो वृत्तिहीनश्च नाम्ना भद्रमतिर्बले
A poor man, deprived of livelihood, named Bhadramati, O mighty one,
श्रुतानि च पुराणानि धर्मशास्त्राणि सर्वशः
had heard all the Purāṇas and the treatises on dharma.
कामिनी मालिनी चैव शोभा चेति प्रकीर्तिताः
Kāminī, Mālinī, and Śobhā are the names mentioned.
पुत्राणामसुरश्रेष्ठ सर्वे नित्यं बुभुक्षिताः
O best of Asuras, all his sons were always hungry.
पश्यन्स्वयं क्षुधार्त्तश्च विललापाकुलेन्द्रियः
Seeing this himself, tormented by hunger, his senses distressed, he lamented.
धिग्जन्म धर्मरहितं धिग्जन्म ख्यातिवर्जितम्
Fie upon a life without righteousness! Fie upon a life lacking reputation!
अहो गुणाः सौम्यता च विद्वत्ता जन्म सत्कुले
Alas for virtues, gentleness, learning, and birth in a noble family!
प्रियाः पुत्राश्चपौत्राश्च बान्धवा भ्रातरस्तथा
Beloved sons, grandsons, relatives, and brothers as well—
चाण्डालो वा द्विजो वापि भाग्यवानेव पूज्यते
Whether an outcaste or a twice-born, only the fortunate are honored.
अहो संपत्संमायुक्तो निष्टुरो वाप्यनिष्ठुरः
Indeed, one endowed with wealth is respected, whether harsh or not.
ऐश्वर्यगुणयुक्तश्चेत्पूज्य एव न संशयः
If one possesses prosperity and virtues, he is certainly honored—there is no doubt.
आशाभिभूताः पुरुषा दुःखमश्नुवते ऽक्षयम्
Men overpowered by desire experience endless suffering.
आशा दासी येषां तेषां दासायते लोकः
For those whose mistress is desire, the world becomes their master.
तस्मिन्नाशाख्यरिपुणा माने नष्टे दरिद्रता
When pride is destroyed by the enemy called desire, poverty arises.
नैष्किञ्चन्यमहाग्राहग्रस्तानां को विमोचचकः
Who can free those seized by the great crocodile of utter destitution?
तत्रापि पुत्रभार्याणां बाहुल्यमतिदुःखदम्
Among them, the abundance of sons and wives brings the greatest misery.
अन्यमैश्वर्यदं धर्मं मनसाचिन्तयत्तदा
Then he contemplated in his mind another act of righteousness that bestows prosperity.
दानेन यो ऽनुमन्ताति स एव कृतवान्पुरा
He who consents to a gift through giving is indeed the one who performed it in the past.
दानानामुत्तमं दानं भूदानं परिकीर्तितम्
Among all gifts, the gift of land is proclaimed as the highest.
इति निश्चत्य मतिमान्धीरो भद्रमतिर्बले
Thus having resolved, the wise and virtuous Bhadramati, strong in purpose—
सुघोषनामविप्रेन्द्रं सर्वैश्वर्यसमन्वलितम्
—approached Sughoṣa, the foremost of Brāhmaṇas, endowed with all prosperity.
सुघोषो धर्मनिरतस्तं निरीक्ष्य कुटुम्बिक्रम्
Sughoṣa, devoted to righteousness, seeing him, the householder—