यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि तस्य नास्तीह दुर्गतिः। ब्रह्महत्यादिभिः पापैर्न लिप्येत कदाचन
Whoever recites or hears this will never meet with misfortune here; he is never tainted by sins such as the killing of a brahmin.
गवां कोटिप्रदानेन यत्फलं लभते नरः। तत्फलं समवाप्नोति पंचाख्यानावगाहनात्
The fruit a man obtains by giving away ten million cows, that same fruit he attains by immersing himself in the tale of the five.
स्नानेन पुष्करे नित्यं भागीरथ्यां च सर्वदा। यत्फलं तदवाप्नोति सकृच्छ्रवणगोचरात्
The merit gained by bathing daily at Puṣkara or always in the Bhāgīrathī, that is attained even by hearing this once.
दुःस्वप्नं नाशयेत्क्षिप्रं तथारोग्यं प्रयच्छति। लक्ष्म्यारोग्यकरं चैव तस्माच्छ्रोतव्यमेव हि
It quickly destroys evil dreams and grants health; it brings the favor of Lakṣmī and well-being, therefore it is indeed to be heard.
इति श्रीपाद्मपुराणे प्रथमे सृष्टिखंडे पंचाख्यानंनाम षट्पंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Padma Purāṇa, in the first section on creation, the fifty-sixth chapter named 'The Tale of the Five' is concluded.
सप्तपञ्चाशत्तमोऽध्यायः। द्विजा ऊचुः- कीर्तिर्धर्मोथ लोकेषु सर्वाणि प्रवराणि च। वद नो मुनिशार्दूल यदि नोऽस्ति त्वनुग्रहः
Chapter fifty-seven. The brahmins said: Glory, virtue, and all the highest things in the worlds—tell us, O best of sages, if you favor us.
व्यास उवाच- यस्य खाते वने गावस्तृप्यंति मासमेव च। यद्वा सप्तदिनात्पूतः सर्वदेवैः स पूजितः
Vyāsa said: He in whose pond, in the forest, cows are satisfied for even a month, or who purifies it within seven days, is worshipped by all the gods.
पुष्करिण्या विशेषेण पूता या यज्ञकर्मणा। यत्फलं जलदानेन सर्वमत्रास्यि(?) तच्छृणु
Especially, a pond that is purified through sacrificial acts—listen to the full result of giving water here, which equals all other offerings.
हायने हायने चैव कल्पं कल्पं विधीयते। दानात्स्वर्गमवाप्नोति तोयदः सर्वदो भुवि
Year after year, and age after age, this is prescribed: by giving water, the giver attains heaven and becomes a benefactor of all on earth.
मेघे वर्षति खाते च जायंते ये तु शीकराः। तावद्वर्षसहस्राणि दिवमश्नाति मानवः
For as many thousands of years as there are drops formed when rain falls into the pond, so long does a person enjoy heaven.
तोयैरन्नादिपाकैश्च प्रसन्नो मानवो भवेत्। प्राणानां च विनान्नैश्च धारणन्नैव जायते
By water and by the cooking of food and the like, a person is gladdened; and without food, life itself cannot be sustained.
पितॄणां तर्पणं शौचं रूपं वै गंध्यनाशनम्। बीजं त्विहार्जितं सर्वं सर्वं तोये प्रतिष्ठितम्
The satisfaction of ancestors, purity, beauty, and the removal of foulness—all seeds acquired here, everything, is established in water.
वस्त्रस्य धावनं रुच्यं भाजनानां तथैव च। तेनैव सर्वकार्यं च पानीयं मेध्यमेव च
The washing of clothes, the cleansing of vessels, and likewise all activities—by water alone, all is accomplished, and drinking water is pure.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन वापीकूपतटाककम्। कारयेच्च बलैः सर्वैस्तथा सर्वधनेन च
Therefore, with every effort, one should construct wells, ponds, and reservoirs, using all available strength and wealth.
ततो विनिर्जले देशो(देशे?) यो ददाति जलाशयम्। वासरे वासरे तस्य कल्पं स्वर्गं विनिर्दिशेत्
Thus, in a place without water, whoever provides a water reservoir is assigned heaven for an age, day after day.
त्रिविष्टपाच्च्युतो विप्रो वेदशास्त्रार्थपारगः। लोकबंधुः स धर्मात्मा तपस्तप्त्वा दिवं व्रजेत्
A brāhmaṇa who has fallen from heaven, who has mastered the meaning of the Vedas and scriptures, who is a friend to all, righteous, and has performed austerities, attains heaven again.
एवं जन्माष्टकं प्राप्य एकस्याक्षयमिष्यते। क्षत्त्रियाणां कुले जातः सार्वभौमो भवेन्नृपः
Thus, after obtaining eight births, one is considered inexhaustible; born in a kṣatriya family, he becomes a universal monarch.
विशोऽक्षयं धनं विद्याज्जन्मजन्मसु यत्प्रियम्। शूद्रादयोन्त्यजाश्चान्ये लभंते स्वर्गतिं मुहुः
Among vaiśyas, he gains inexhaustible wealth, and in every birth, whatever is dear; even śūdras and those of lower birth repeatedly attain heaven.
चतुर्हस्तप्रमाणं तु कूपं खनति यः पुमान्। परोपकारकं नित्यं कल्पं स्वर्गं तु हायने
A man who digs a well measuring four cubits, always for the benefit of others, attains heaven for an age each year.
द्विगुणे द्विगुणं विद्याच्छतं चैव चतुर्गुणे। विंशत्किष्कुप्रमाणां तु दद्यात्पुष्करिणीं तु यः
If it is twice as large, the result is doubled; if four times as large, a hundredfold. Whoever gives a pond measuring twenty cubits—
विष्णोर्धाम लभेत्सोपि दिव्यभोगं तथैव च। अनंतरं नृपो जातो धनी वागीश्वरो भवेत्
He attains the abode of Viṣṇu and likewise enjoys divine pleasures; in his next birth, he becomes a king, wealthy, and eloquent.
एवं द्विस्त्रिश्चतुर्वापि गुणतो भोग्यमिष्यते। विस्तीर्णे प्रचुरं विद्धि सहस्रेणाच्युतो दिवः
In this way, whether double, triple, or quadruple, the reward increases accordingly; know that with a thousand, one attains the highest heaven.
सहस्राद्द्विगुणेनैव सुरपूज्यो भवेन्नरः। जंतवस्तत्र ये संति यावंतो जीवनं ययुः
With twice a thousand, a man becomes worthy of worship by the gods; and all the living beings who dwell there, for as long as they live—
तत्संख्याका जनास्तस्य किंकराः पृष्टलग्नकाः। भवंति सततं गेहे पुरे जनपदेषु च
That number of people become his attendants, always attached to him, in his house, city, and country.
विहाय पितरं भोग्या धने क्षीणे यथा वनम्। पक्षिणस्सूकरश्चैव महिषी करिणी तथा
Just as, when wealth is exhausted, birds, pigs, buffalo cows, and female elephants abandon their provider and go to the forest,
उपदेष्टा च कर्त्ता च षडेते स्वर्गगामिनः। दिव्यं च पक्षिणां चैव शतं स्वर्गं विनिर्दिशेत्
The instructor and the doer—these six lead to heaven; and a hundred of divine birds are indeed said to attain heaven.
क्रोडो वर्षसहस्रं तु महिष्ययुतहायनम्। देवरूपं समास्थाय करिण्या लक्षमुच्यते
A boar (kroḍa) for a thousand years, a buffalo cow for ten thousand years, assuming a divine form, and for an elephant cow, a hundred thousand are declared.
कोट्येकमुपदेष्टुश्च कर्तुरक्षयमेव च। पुरा धनिसुतेनैव कृतः ख्यातो जलाशयः
For each crore, for the instructor and for the doer, there is indeed inexhaustible merit; formerly, a renowned reservoir was made by the son of Dhana.
अयुतधनव्ययेनैव प्राणेनैव बलेन च। सर्वसत्वोपकाराय शिवश्रद्धायुतेन च
With the expenditure of ten thousand coins, with his very life and strength, for the benefit of all beings, and with ten thousandfold devotion to Shiva,
कालेन कियता चापि क्षीणवित्तोऽभवत्किल। कश्चिदर्थी धनी तस्य मूल्यदानाय चोद्यतः
After some time, his wealth was depleted; a certain wealthy man became desirous and was ready to pay the price.