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.
पुष्पमालान्वितं कुर्याद्ब्रह्मसूत्रेण शोभितम् । प्रतिष्ठितं वेदमंत्रैस्तं संपूज्य महामते
It should be decorated with a garland of flowers and adorned with a sacred thread; after establishing it and worshipping with Vedic mantras, O wise one,
उपचारैः पवित्रैश्च षोडशैः परिपूजयेत् । स्वलंकृत्य ततो दद्याद्ब्राह्मणाय महात्मने
He should worship it with sixteen pure offerings; then, after adorning it, he should give it to a great-souled Brahmin.
षोडशैव ततो गावः सवस्त्राः कांस्यदोहनाः । कुंभयुक्ताश्च चत्वारो दक्षिणां च सकांचनाम्
Then, sixteen cows with garments and bronze milking vessels, each with a pot, and a gold-adorned gift should be given.
तथा द्वादशका गावो वस्त्रालंकारभूषणाः । पृथग्भूताय विप्राय दातव्या नात्र संशयः
Likewise, twelve cows adorned with garments and ornaments should be given separately to a Brahmin; of this there is no doubt.
एवमादीनि दानानि अन्यानि नृपनंदन । तीर्थकालं सुसंप्राप्य विप्रावसथमेव च
Other gifts of this kind, O joy of kings, should be given at the proper time of pilgrimage and at the Brahmin's residence.
श्रद्धाभावेन दातव्यं बहुपुण्यकरं भवेत् । विष्णुरुवाच-। विष्णुमुद्दिश्य यद्दानं कामनापरिकल्पितम्
With faith, one should give; it brings great merit. Vishnu said: Any gift made with desire, dedicated to Vishnu,
तस्य दानस्य भावेन भावनापरिभावितः । तादृक्फलं समश्नाति मानुषो नात्र संशयः
According to the intention and feeling behind the gift, a person attains a corresponding result; of this there is no doubt.
अभ्युदयं प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ञादिषु प्रवर्तते । तेन दानेन तस्यापि श्रद्धया च द्विजोत्तम
I will explain the prosperity that arises, which occurs in sacrifices and the like; by that gift and with faith, O best of Brahmins,
प्रज्ञावृद्धिं समाप्नोति न च दुःखं प्रविंदति । भोगान्भुनक्ति धर्मात्मा जीवमानस्तु सांप्रतम्
He attains growth in wisdom and does not encounter suffering; while living, the righteous one enjoys pleasures.
ऐंद्रांस्तु भुंक्ते भोगान्स दाता दिव्यां गतिं गतः । स्वकुलं नयते स्वर्गं कल्पानां च सहस्रकम्
That giver, having attained a divine state, enjoys pleasures of Indra and leads his family to heaven for a thousand aeons.