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.
ततो धर्मतुलायां तु तुलितं धर्मसाक्षिणा। दीनारायुतदानस्य पुष्करिण्या जलस्य तु
Then, on the scale of righteousness, it was weighed by witnesses of righteousness—the ten thousand dinars given and the water of the pond.
न समं तु दिनैकं तु जलस्य धर्मतो भृशम्। धनिनो मानसं दुःखं मोघार्थं च परेऽहनि
Not even for a single day was the merit of the water equal, by righteousness; the wealthy man's mind was filled with sorrow, and the purpose was in vain on the next day.
शिलोच्चयोऽभवत्तीर्णो द्वीपवच्च जलोपरि। ततः कोलाहलः शब्दो जनानां समुपस्थितः
A heap of stones arose, standing upon the water like an island; then a tumultuous sound of people gathered there.
तच्छ्रुत्वाद्भुतवाक्यं च मुदा तौ चागतौ ततः। दृष्ट्वा शैलं तथाभूतं कृतं तेनायुतं तथा
Hearing that wondrous event, both of them came joyfully; seeing the mountain thus formed, he made a donation of ten thousand.
ततः खाताधिपेनैव शैलं दूरे निपातितम्। पुण्यं खातस्य चोत्खाते प्रलुप्तस्य सुतेन हि
Then, by the lord of the excavation, the mountain was cast far away; the merit of the excavation, even when lost, was restored by his son.
सोपि नाकं समारुह्य जन्मजन्मसु निर्वृतः। गोत्रमातृगणानां च नृपाणां सुहृदां तथा
He too, ascending to heaven, was content through many births, along with the groups of his maternal ancestors, kings, and friends.
सखीनां चोपकर्तॄणां खातं खात्वाऽक्षयं फलम्। तपस्विनामनाथानां ब्राह्मणानां विशेषतः
And for companions and benefactors, by digging a tank, the fruit is inexhaustible, especially for ascetics, the destitute, and Brahmins.
खातं तु जनयित्वा तु स्वर्गं चाक्षयमश्नुते। तस्मात्खातादिकं विप्राः शक्तितो यः करिष्यति
By creating a tank, one attains imperishable heaven; therefore, O Brahmins, whoever performs the making of a tank and the like, according to his ability—
सर्वपापक्षयात्पुण्यं मोक्षं यायान्न संशयः। य इदं श्रावयेल्लोके धर्माख्यानं महोत्कटम्
He attains virtue, liberation from all sins—of this there is no doubt; and whoever causes this great and excellent account of righteousness to be heard in the world—
सर्वखातप्रदानस्य फलमश्नाति धार्मिकः। ग्रहणे भास्करस्यैव भागीरथ्यां तटे वरे
The righteous one enjoys the fruit of giving all tanks, especially at the auspicious bank of the Bhagirathi at the time of the sun's eclipse.