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.
वाहनानि विचित्राणि यानान्येव महामते । नानागंधान्सकर्पूरं यमपंथ सुखप्रदे
Various vehicles and conveyances, O wise one; fragrances of many kinds with camphor, which bring comfort on the path of Yama.
उपानहौ प्रदातव्ये यदीच्छेद्विपुलं सुखम् । एतैर्दानैर्महाराज यमपंथं सुखेन वै
Footwear should be given if one desires abundant happiness; with these gifts, O great king, the path of Yama is traversed with ease.
प्रयाति मानवो राजन्यमदूतैरलंकृतम्
A person proceeds, O king, adorned by the messengers of Yama.
एकचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः 2.41 वेन उवाच- पुत्रो भार्या कथं तीर्थं पितामाता कथं वद । गुरुश्चैव कथं तीर्थं तन्मे विस्तरतो वद
Chapter Forty-One. Vena said: How is a son a sacred place, how is a wife, and how are father and mother? Tell me; and how is a teacher a sacred place? Explain this to me in detail.
श्रीविष्णुरुवाच- अस्ति वाराणसी रम्या गंगायुक्ता महापुरी । तस्यां वसति वैश्यैकः कृकलो नाम नामतः
Sri Vishnu said: There is Varanasi, delightful, a great city joined with the Ganges; in it dwells a merchant named Krkala.
तस्य भार्या महासाध्वी पतिव्रतपरायणा । धर्माचारपरा नित्यं सा वै पतिपरायणा
His wife was a great and virtuous woman, devoted to her husband; always intent on righteous conduct, she was devoted to her husband.
सुकला नाम पुण्यांगी सुपुत्रा चारुमंगला । सत्यंवदा सदा शुद्धा प्रियाकारा प्रियप्रिया
Named Sukala, blessed with a pure body, a good daughter, and charmingly auspicious; always truthful, ever pure, pleasing in appearance, beloved of the beloved.
एवंगुणैः समायुक्ता सुभगा चारुकारिणी । स वैश्य उत्तमो नाना धर्मज्ञो ज्ञानवान्गुणी
Endowed with such qualities, fortunate and beautiful in action; that merchant was excellent, knowledgeable in various dharmas, wise and virtuous.
पुराणे श्रौतधर्मे च सदा श्रवणतत्परः । तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगेन बहुपुण्यप्रदायकम्
In the Purana and Vedic dharma, always intent on listening; through pilgrimage, he bestowed much merit.
श्रद्धया निर्गतो यात्रां तीर्थानां पुण्यमंगलाम् । ब्राह्मणानां प्रसंगेन सार्थवाहेन तेन च
With faith, he set out on a journey to the auspicious holy places; accompanied by Brahmins and by that caravan leader.