कर्मणा स्वेन विप्रेंद्र पुण्येन नृपनंदन । आत्मार्थे त्वं महाभाग वरमेव प्रयाचय
By your own action, O best of brāhmaṇs, O delight of kings, by your merit, O most fortunate one, ask for a boon for your own sake.
शृणु वेन महाभाग वृत्तांतं पूर्वसंभवम् । तव मात्रे पुरा दत्तः शापः क्रुद्धेन भूपते
Hear, O Vena, O most fortunate one, the story of a former event: long ago your mother was cursed by the king, in anger.
सुशंखेन सुनीथायै बाल्ये पूर्वं महात्मना । ततस्त्वंगे वरो दत्तो मयैव विदितात्मना
By Suśaṅkha, the great soul, upon Sunīthā in her childhood; then, to Aṅga, a boon was granted by me, the self-knowing.
त्वां समुद्धर्त्तुकामेन सुपुत्रस्ते भविष्यति । एवमुक्त्वा तु पितरं तवाहं गुणवत्सल
Desiring to uplift you, a good son will be born to you; having thus spoken to your father, O lover of virtue—
भवदंगात्समुद्भूतः करिष्ये लोकपालनम् । दिवींद्रो हि यथा भाति तथाहं भूतले स्थितः
I said, 'Born from your body, I will protect the world; just as Indra shines in heaven, so shall I on earth.'
आत्मा वै जायते पुत्र इति सत्यवती श्रुतिः । अतस्त्वं सुगतिं वत्स लभिष्यसि वरान्मम
'The self is indeed born as the son'—so declares the true śruti; therefore, O child, you shall obtain good destiny by my boon.
गत्यर्थमात्मनो राजन्दानमेकं समाचर । यस्त्वां पातकरूपोऽहं सुनीथायाः परंतप
For the sake of your own progress, O king, perform a single act of charity; I am the one who, in the form of sin, came to Sunīthā, O subduer of foes.
अब्रुवन्नग्नरूपेण कर्तुं त्वां तु विधर्मगम् । अन्यथा तु सुशंखस्य वाक्यमेवान्यथा भवेत्
They spoke, in naked form, to make you act unrighteously; otherwise, the words of Suśaṅkha would turn out otherwise.
अतो विधिर्निषेधश्च ह्यहमेव नृपोत्तम । कर्मानुरूपफलदो बुद्ध्यतीतो गुणाग्रहः
Therefore, O best of kings, I alone am the author of injunction and prohibition; I am the giver of results according to actions, beyond intellect, and unattached to qualities.
दानमेव परं श्रेष्ठं दानं सर्वप्रभावकम् । तस्माद्दानं ददस्व त्वं दानात्पुण्यं प्रवर्तते
Charity alone is the highest and best; charity is the source of all power. Therefore, you should give charity, for from charity merit arises.
दानेन नश्यते पापं तस्माद्दानं ददस्व हि । अश्वमेधादिभिर्यज्ञैर्यजस्व नृपसत्तम
By charity, sin is destroyed; therefore, indeed, you should give charity. Perform sacrifices such as the Ashvamedha, O best of kings.
भूमिदानादिकं दानं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददस्व वै । सुदानात्प्राप्यते भोगः सुदानात्प्राप्यते यशः
Give gifts such as land and other donations to the Brahmins; from excellent charity, enjoyment is obtained, and from excellent charity, fame is attained.
सुदानाज्जायते कीर्तिः सुदानात्प्राप्यते सुखम् । दानेन स्वर्गमाप्नोति फलं तत्र भुनक्ति च
From excellent charity, glory is born; from excellent charity, happiness is gained. By charity, one attains heaven and enjoys the fruit there.
दत्तस्यापि सुदानस्य श्रद्धायुक्तस्य सत्तम । काले प्राप्ते व्रजेत्तीर्थं पुण्यस्यापि फलं त्विदम्
Even for one who gives excellent charity with faith, O noble one, when the proper time comes, he should go on pilgrimage; this too is the fruit of merit.
पात्रभूताय विप्राय श्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा । यो ददाति महादानं मयि भावं निवेश्य च
Whoever gives a great gift to a worthy Brahmin with a mind purified by faith, and with devotion fixed on me,
तस्याहं सकलं दद्मि मनसा यंयमिच्छति । वेन उवाच- कालं दानस्य मे ब्रूहि कीदृक्कालस्य लक्षणम्
To him I grant entirely, in mind, whatever he desires. Vena said: Tell me the time for giving charity, and what are the marks of that time?
तीर्थस्यापि च यद्रूपं पात्रस्यापि सुलक्षणम् । दानस्यापि जगन्नाथ विधिं विस्तरतो वद
Also, what is the nature of a sacred place, and what are the best characteristics of a worthy recipient? O Lord of the world, explain in detail the proper method of charity.
प्रसादसुमुखो भूत्वा दया मे यदि वर्त्तते । श्रीकृष्ण उवाच-। दानकालं प्रवक्ष्यामि नित्यं नैमित्तिकं नृप
If you are kindly disposed and compassion arises in you, O Krishna said: I will explain the time for giving charity—regular, occasional, and, O king,
काम्यं चान्यं महाराज चतुर्थप्रापकं पुनः । सूर्योदयस्य वेलायां पापं नश्यति सर्वतः
And also desired and other types, O great king, and the fourth, which brings attainment. At sunrise, all sin is destroyed.
अंधकाराधिका घोरा नराणां नाशकारकाः । दिवि सूर्यो ममांशोऽयं तेजसां कल्पितो निधिः
The time of deep darkness is dreadful and brings destruction to men. The sun in the sky is my own portion, established as a treasure of light.
तस्यैव तेजसा दग्धा भस्मतां यांति किल्बिषाः । उदयंतं ममांशं यो दृष्ट्वा दत्ते तु वार्यपि
By that very radiance, sins are burned to ashes. Whoever, seeing my portion rising, even gives water,
तस्य किं कथ्यते भूप नित्यं पुण्यविवर्द्धनम् । संप्राप्तायां सुवेलायां तस्यां पुण्यकरो नरः
What need is there to say more, O king? That always increases his merit. When that auspicious time arrives, a man becomes a maker of merit.
स्नात्वाभ्यर्च्य पितॄन्देवान्दानदाता भवेत्पुनः । यथाशक्तिप्रभावेन श्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा
Having bathed and worshipped the ancestors and gods, he should again give charity, with a mind purified by faith and according to his ability and means.
अन्नं पयः फलं पुष्पं वस्त्रं तांबूलभूषणम् । हेमरत्नादिकं चैव तस्य पुण्यमनंतकम्
Food, milk, fruit, flowers, cloth, betel, ornaments, and also gold, jewels, and the like—his merit from these is endless.
मध्याह्ने तु ततो राजन्नपराह्णे तथैव च । मामुद्दिश्य च यो दद्यात्तस्य पुण्यमनंतकम्
At midday and likewise in the afternoon, O king, whoever gives, dedicating it to me, his merit is endless.
खाद्यपानादिकं मिष्ट लेपनं गंधकुंकुमम् । कर्पूरादिकमेवापि वस्त्रालंकारसंयुतम्
Delicacies to eat and drink, sweets, ointments, sandalwood, saffron, camphor, and the like, along with garments and ornaments.
अविच्छिन्नं ददात्येवं भोगसौख्यप्रदायकम् । नित्यकालो मया ख्यातो दानपूजार्थिनां शुभः
Thus, uninterrupted giving bestows enjoyment and happiness; I have declared the auspicious perpetual time for those who seek merit through gifts and worship.
अथातः संप्रवक्ष्यामि नैमित्तिकमनुत्तमम् । त्रिकालेष्वपि दातव्यं दानमेव न संशयः
Now, therefore, I shall explain the supreme occasional times; indeed, gifts must be given at all three times—there is no doubt.
शून्यं दिनं न कर्तव्यमात्मनो हितमिच्छता । यस्मिन्काले प्रदत्तं हि किंचिद्दानं नराधिप
One who desires his own welfare should not let a day pass empty; O king, at whatever time even a little gift is given—
तत्प्रभावान्महाप्राज्ञो बहुसामर्थ्यसंयुतः । धनाढ्यो गुणवान्प्राज्ञः पंडितोऽपि विचक्षणः
Through the power of that, a wise man endowed with great ability becomes wealthy, virtuous, learned, and discerning.