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.
एवमाभ्युदयं प्रोक्तं प्राप्तं तेषु वदाम्यहम् । कायस्य च क्षयं ज्ञात्वा जरया परिपीडितः
Thus, I have described the prosperity attained by them; knowing the body's decay and being afflicted by old age,
दानं तेन प्रदातव्यमाशां कस्य न कारयेत् । मृते च मयि मे पुत्रा अन्ये स्वजनबांधवाः
One should give charity then—whose hope would not arise? When I am dead, my sons and other relatives—
कथमेते भविष्यंति मां विना सुहृदो मम । तेषां मोहात्प्रमुग्धो वै न ददाति स किंचन
How will these friends of mine fare without me? Deluded by attachment, he gives nothing at all.
मृत्युं प्रयाति मोहात्मा रुदंति मित्रबांधवाः । दुःखेन पीडिताः सर्वे मायामोहेन पीडिताः
The deluded soul goes to death, and friends and relatives weep, all afflicted with sorrow, tormented by the illusion of attachment.
संकल्पयंति दानानि मोक्षं वै चिंतयंति च । तस्मिन्मृते महाराज मायामोहे गते सति
They resolve to give gifts and contemplate liberation; but when that one dies, O great king, and the delusion of illusion departs,
विस्मरंति च दानानि लोभात्मानो ददंति न । योऽसौ मृतो महाराज यमपंथं सुदुःखितः
They forget the gifts, those whose nature is greed do not give; that one who has died, O great king, travels the path of Yama in great distress.
तृषाक्षुधासमाक्रांतो बहुदुःखैः प्रपीडितः । तस्माद्दानं प्रदातव्यं स्वयमेव न संशयः
Afflicted by thirst and hunger, tormented by many sufferings; therefore, gifts must be given personally, without doubt.
कस्य पुत्राश्च पौत्राश्च कस्य भार्या नृपोत्तम । संसारे नास्ति कः कस्य तस्माद्दानं प्रदीयते
Whose are sons and grandsons, whose is wife, O best of kings? In this world, who belongs to whom? Therefore, gifts are to be given.
ज्ञानवता प्रदातव्यं स्वयमेव न संशयः । अन्नं पानं च तांबूलमुदकं कांचनं तथा
By the wise, gifts must be given personally, without doubt; food, drink, betel, water, and gold likewise.
युग्मं वस्त्रं च छत्रं च स्वयमेव न संशयः । जलपात्राण्यनेकानि सोदकानि नृपोत्तम
A pair of garments, an umbrella, personally, without doubt; many vessels of water, O best of kings, with water.