चोराय च न दातव्यं स यद्यत्रिसमो भवेत् । अतृप्ताय न दातव्यं शावं तु परिवर्जयेत्
Nor should gifts be given to a thief, even if he is equal to Atri; nor to one who is unsatisfied, and a corpse should be avoided.
अतिस्तब्धाय नो देयं शठाय च विशेषतः । वेदशास्त्रसमायुक्तः सदाचारेण वर्जितः
Gifts should not be given to one who is excessively arrogant, especially to a deceitful person; even if he is versed in Vedas and scriptures, lacking good conduct, he should be avoided.
श्राद्धे दाने च राजेंद्र नैव युक्तः कदा भवेत् । अथ दानं प्रवक्ष्यामि सफलं पुण्यदायकम्
In śrāddha and giving, O king, such a person is never suitable; now I will explain the giving that is fruitful and bestows merit.
कालतीर्थसुपात्राणां श्रद्धा योगात्प्रजायते । नास्ति श्रद्धासमं पुण्यं नास्ति श्रद्धासमं सुखम्
From the union of faith, proper time, holy place, and worthy recipients, merit arises; there is no virtue equal to faith, nor happiness equal to faith.
नास्ति श्रद्धासमं तीर्थं संसारे प्राणिनां नृप । श्रद्धाभावेन संयुक्तो मामेवं परिसंस्मरेत्
There is no holy place equal to faith for living beings in this world, O king; one who is joined with lack of faith should remember me thus.
पात्रहस्ते प्रदातव्यं स्वल्पमेव नृपोत्तम । एवंविधस्य दानस्य विधियुक्तस्य यत्फलम्
A gift should be given into the hand of the recipient, even if small, O best of kings; the fruit of such giving, performed according to rule—
अनंतं तदवाप्नोति मत्प्रसादात्सुखी भवेत्
Is infinite; he attains it by my grace and becomes happy.
वेन उवाच- नित्यदानफलं देव त्वत्तः पूर्वं मया श्रुतम् । नैमित्तिकस्य दानस्य दत्तस्यापि हि यत्फलम्
Vena said: O Lord, I have previously heard from you about the perpetual fruit of giving; now tell me the fruit of occasional giving as well.
तत्फलं मे समाचक्ष्व त्वत्प्रसादात्प्रयत्नतः । महातृप्तिं न गच्छामि श्रोतुं श्रद्धा प्रवर्तते
Tell me the result of this, by your grace and effort; I do not attain great satisfaction, and my faith is stirred to hear more.
विष्णुरुवाच- नैमित्तिकं प्रवक्ष्यामि दानमेव नृपोत्तम । महापर्वणि संप्राप्ते येन दानानि श्रद्धया
Viṣṇu said: I will explain the occasional gift, O best of kings, by which, when the great festival arrives, gifts are given with faith.
सत्पात्रेभ्यः प्रदत्तानि तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु । गजं रथं प्रदत्ते यो ह्यश्वं चापि नृपोत्तम
Hear the merit gained by giving to worthy recipients: whoever gives an elephant, a chariot, or a horse, O best of kings—
स च भृत्यैस्तु संयुक्तः पुण्यदेशे नृपोत्तमः । जायते हि महाराज मत्प्रसादान्न संशयः
That king, accompanied by servants, is born in a virtuous land, O great king; by my grace, there is no doubt.
राजा भवति धर्मात्मा ज्ञानवान्बलवान्सुधीः । अजेयः सर्वभूतानां महातेजाः प्रजायते
He becomes a righteous king, wise, strong, and intelligent; unconquered by all beings, he is born with great brilliance.
महापर्वणि संप्राप्ते भूमिदानं ददाति यः । गोदानं वा महाराज सर्वभोगपतिर्भवेत्
Whoever gives land at the arrival of the great festival, or gives a cow, O great king, becomes master of all enjoyments.
ब्राह्मणाय सुपुण्याय दानं दद्यात्प्रयत्नतः । महादानानि यो दद्यात्तीर्थे पर्वणि पात्रवित्
One should give, with effort, a gift to a highly virtuous brāhmaṇa; whoever gives great gifts at a sacred place during a festival, knowing the proper recipient—
तेषां चिह्नं प्रवक्ष्यामि भूपतित्वं प्रजायते । तीर्थे पर्वणि संप्राप्ते गुप्तदानं ददाति यः
I will tell you their sign: kingship arises for them; whoever gives a concealed gift at a sacred place during a festival—
निधीनामाशुसंप्राप्तिरक्षरा परिजायते । महापर्वणि संप्राप्ते तीर्थेषु ब्राह्मणाय च
He quickly attains treasures, and imperishable wealth is produced; when the great festival arrives, at sacred places and to brāhmaṇas—
सुचैलं च महादानं कांचनेन समन्वितम् । पुण्यं फलं प्रवक्ष्यामि तस्य दानस्य भूपते
A great gift of fine cloth, adorned with gold; I will tell you the merit of that gift, O king.
जायंते बहवः पुत्राः सुगुणा वेदपारगाः । आयुष्मंतः प्रजावंतो यशः पुण्यसमन्विताः
Many sons are born to him, virtuous and learned in the Vedas, long-lived, possessing offspring, and endowed with fame and merit.
विपुलाश्चैव जायंते स्फीता लक्ष्मीर्महामते । सौख्यं च लभते पुण्यं धर्मवान्परिजायते
Great prosperity arises, abundant wealth, O wise one; he attains happiness, merit, and is born righteous.
महापर्वणि संप्राप्ते तीर्थे गत्वा प्रयत्नतः । कपिलां कांचनीं दद्याद्ब्राह्मणाय महात्मने
When the great festival arrives, going to a sacred place with effort, one should give a golden-colored cow to a brāhmaṇa of great soul.
तस्य पुण्यं प्रवक्ष्यामि दानस्य च महामते । कपिलादो महाराज सर्वसौख्यान्प्रभुंजति
I will tell you the merit of that gift, O wise king; by giving a golden cow, O great king, he attains all happiness.
यावद्ब्रह्मा प्रजीवेत्स तावत्तिष्ठति तत्र सः । महापर्वणि संप्राप्ते अलंकृत्य च गां तदा
He remains there as long as Brahmā lives; when the great festival arrives, he should adorn the cow—
कांचनेनापि संयुक्तां वस्त्रालंकारभूषणैः । तस्य दानस्य राजेंद्र फलभोगं वदाम्यहम्
Joined with gold, with garments and ornaments; I will tell you, O king, the enjoyment of the fruit of that gift.
विपुला जायते लक्ष्मीर्दानभोगसमाकुला । सर्वविद्यापतिर्भूत्वा विष्णुभक्तो भवेत्किल
Great wealth arises, filled with the enjoyment of gifts; becoming master of all knowledge, he indeed becomes a devotee of Viṣṇu.
विष्णुलोके वसेन्मर्त्यो यावत्तिष्ठति मेदिनी । तीर्थं गत्वा तु यो दद्याद्ब्राह्मणाय विभूषणम्
A mortal dwells in Viṣṇu's realm as long as he remains on earth; whoever, going to a sacred place, gives an ornament to a brāhmaṇa—
भुक्त्वा तु विपुलान्भोगानिन्द्रेण क्रीडते सह । महापर्वणि संप्राप्ते वस्त्रं च द्विजपुंगवे
After enjoying abundant pleasures, he plays together with Indra; when the great festival arrives, he receives clothing, O best of twice-born.
दत्त्वान्नं भूमिसंयुक्तं पात्रे श्रद्धासमन्वितः । मोदते स तु वैकुंठे विष्णुतुल्यपराक्रमः
Having given food mixed with earth to a worthy recipient with faith, he rejoices in Vaikuntha, possessing valor equal to Vishnu.
सवस्त्रं कांचनं दत्त्वा द्विजाय परिशांतये । स्वेच्छया अग्निसदृशो वैकुंठे स वसेत्सुखी
By giving gold along with garments to a Brahmin for his peace, he dwells happily in Vaikuntha, shining like fire, according to his wish.
सुवर्णस्य सुकुंभं च घृतेन परिपूरयेत् । पिधानं रौप्यं कर्तव्यं वस्त्रहारैरलंकृतम्
One should fill a beautiful golden pot with ghee, make a silver lid, and adorn it with garlands of cloth and ornaments.