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.
विमृश्य धनिना चोक्तं व्याहारं शृणुताधुना। दीनारस्यायुतं वा ते दास्याम्यस्याश्च कारणात्
Having considered, the wealthy man spoke—listen now to his words: 'I will give you ten thousand dinars, and for this reason.'
लब्धं ते पुष्करिण्याश्च पुण्यं लाभात्प्रमन्यसे। शक्त्या दत्वाथ मूल्यं तां स्वीयां कर्तुं व्यवस्थितः
'You think you have gained merit from the pond by acquiring it; having paid the price according to your ability, you are resolved to make it your own.'
एवमुक्ते स तं प्राह वासरेप्ययुतं पुनः। फलं भवति वै नित्यं पुण्यं पुण्यविदो विदुः
When this was said, he replied, 'Even if you give ten thousand again in a single day, the fruit is always obtained; the wise know the merit.'
एतस्मिन्निर्जले देशे शिवं खातं कृतं च मे। स्नानपानादिकं कर्म सर्वे कुर्वंत्यभीष्टतः
'In this waterless place, I have dug and made a reservoir; all perform bathing, drinking, and other acts here as they desire.'
तस्मान्मेप्ययुतार्थस्य नैत्यकं फलमिष्यते। ततस्तस्याभवद्धास्यं तथैव च सभासदाम्
Therefore, for my ten thousand, the perpetual fruit is desired; then laughter arose among him and likewise among the assembly.
ह्रिया च पीडितः सोपि वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह। सत्यमेतद्वचोस्माकं परीक्षां कुरु धर्मतः
Afflicted with shame, he too spoke these words: 'This statement of ours is true—test it according to righteousness.'
मत्सरात्स तु तं प्राह शृणु मे वचनं पितः। दीनारायुत मे तत्ते दत्वा चानीय प्रस्तरम्
Out of envy, he said to him, 'Listen to my words, father: bring me a slab after giving ten thousand dinars.'
पातयिष्यामि ते खाते यथायोगं प्रमज्जतु। उन्मज्जति च यत्काले प्रस्तरः संतरत्यपि
'I will throw the slab into the reservoir; let it sink as is proper, and at the time it rises, the slab will also cross over.'
क्षयं यास्यति नो वित्तं नोचेन्मे धर्मतो हि सा। बाढमुक्त्वायुतं तस्य गृहीत्वा स्वगृहं गतः
'My wealth will not be diminished, unless, indeed, it is so by righteousness; having agreed, he took the ten thousand and went to his own house.'
साक्षिणामग्रतस्तेन प्रस्तरः पातितस्तथा। पुष्करिण्यां महत्यां च दृष्टं नरसुरासुरैः
In the presence of witnesses, the slab was thrown in just so; in the great pond, it was seen by men, gods, and demons.