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.
प्रस्थितो धर्ममार्गं तु तमुवाच पतिव्रता । पतिस्नेहेन संमुग्धा भर्तारं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Setting out on the path of dharma, his devoted wife spoke to him; filled with affection for her husband, she addressed him with words.
सुकलोवाच- अहं ते धर्मतः पत्नी सहपुण्यकरा प्रिय । पतिमार्गं प्रतीक्ष्याहं पतिदेवं यजाम्यहम्
Sukala said: I am your wife by dharma, dear, a companion in merit; awaiting the path of my husband, I worship my husband as a god.
कदा नैव मया त्याज्यं सामीप्यं ते द्विजोत्तम । तवच्छायां समाश्रित्य करिष्ये धर्ममुत्तमम्
O best of twice-born, when shall I never forsake your nearness? Sheltering in your shade, I will perform the highest dharma.
पतिव्रताख्यं पापघ्नं नारीणां गतिदायकम् । पुण्यस्त्री कथ्यते लोके या स्यात्पतिपरायणा
That which is called fidelity to one's husband destroys sin and grants women their path; in the world, a virtuous woman is said to be one who is devoted to her husband.
युवतीनां पृथक्तीर्थं विना भर्तुर्न शोभते । सुखदं नास्ति वै लोके स्वर्गमोक्षप्रदायकम्
For young women, separate pilgrimage without their husband is not fitting; there is no happiness in the world, nor anything that grants heaven or liberation.
सव्यं पादं च भर्तुश्च प्रयागं विद्धि सत्तम । वामं च पुष्करं तस्य या नारी परिकल्पयेत्
Know, O noble one, that the husband's right foot is Prayaga, and his left is Pushkara; whichever woman conceives of them thus—
तस्य पादोदकस्नानात्तत्पुण्यं परि जायते । प्रयागपुष्करसमं स्नानं स्त्रीणां न संशयः
From bathing in the water at his feet, that merit arises; for women, bathing is equal to Prayaga and Pushkara, without doubt.
सर्वतीर्थमयो भर्ता सर्वपुण्यमयः पतिः । मखानां यजनात्पुण्यं यद्वै भवति दीक्षिते
The husband is the embodiment of all sacred places, the husband is full of all merit; the merit that comes from performing sacrifices for the initiated—
तत्फलं समवाप्नोति सेवया भर्तुरेव हि । गयादीनां सुतीर्थानां यात्रां कृत्वा हि यद्भवेत्
That fruit is attained by service to the husband alone; whatever results from pilgrimage to holy places like Gaya and others—
तत्फलं समवाप्नोति भर्तुः शुश्रूषणादपि । समासेन प्रवक्ष्यामि तन्मे निगदतः शृणु
That fruit is also attained by attending to the husband; I will briefly explain, listen to my words.