मानवा मर्त्यलोके च पापं कुर्वंति दारुणम् । तेषां कर्मविपाकं च मातले वद सांप्रतम्
People in the world of mortals commit terrible sins; Mātali, tell me now the results of their actions.
मातलिरुवाच- श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि पापाचारस्य लक्षणम् । श्रुते सति महज्ज्ञानमत्रलोके प्रजायते
Mātali said: Listen, I will describe the characteristics of sinful conduct; when this is heard, great knowledge arises in this world.
वेदनिंदां प्रकुर्वंति ब्रह्माचारस्य कुत्सनम् । महापातकमेवापि ज्ञातव्यं ज्ञानपंडितैः
They revile the Vedas and disparage the conduct of Brahmins; this, too, should be known by the wise as a great sin.
साधूनामपि सर्वेषां यः पीडां हि समाचरेत् । महापातकमेवापि प्रायश्चित्ते न हि व्रजेत्
Whoever causes suffering to even the most virtuous—this, too, is a great sin, and no atonement is prescribed for it.
कुलाचारं परित्यज्य अन्याचारं व्रजंति च । एतच्च पातकं घोरं कथितं कृत्यवेदिभिः
Abandoning the customs of one's lineage and adopting other practices—this is declared by those who know the rites to be a terrible sin.
मातापित्रोश्च यो निंदां ताडनं भगिनीषु च । पितृस्वसृनिंदनं च तदेव पातकं ध्रुवम्
Whoever insults or strikes their mother or father, or their sisters, or insults their paternal aunt—this is certainly a sin.
संप्राप्ते श्राद्धकालेपि पंचक्रोशांतरेस्थितम् । जामातरं परित्यज्य तथा च दुहितुः सुतम्
Even when the time for the śrāddha arrives, if one, remaining within five krośas, abandons the son-in-law or the daughter's son,
स्वसारं चैव स्वस्रीयं परित्यज्य प्रवर्तते । कामात्क्रोधाद्भयाद्वापि अन्यं भोजयते यदा
And similarly abandons one's sister or maternal cousin, and out of desire, anger, or fear, feeds someone else,
पितरो नैव भुंजंति देवाश्चैव न भुंजते । एतच्च पातकं तस्य पितृघातसमं कृतम्
The ancestors do not partake, nor do the gods eat; this sin is considered equal to killing one's ancestors.
दानकालेपि संप्राप्ते आगते ब्राह्मणे किल । भूरिदानं परित्यज्य कतिभ्यो हि प्रदीयते
Even when the time for giving arrives and a brāhmaṇa has come, if one neglects abundant giving and gives only to a few,
एकस्मै दीयते दानमन्येभ्योपि न दीयते । एतच्च पातकं घोरं दानभ्रंशकरं स्मृतम्
If one gives charity to only one and not to others, this is regarded as a terrible sin, causing the loss of merit from giving.
यजमानगृहे सेवा संस्थितान्ब्राह्मणान्निजान् । परित्यज्य हि यद्दानं न दानस्य च लक्षणम्
If, abandoning the brāhmaṇas who are present and serving in the yajamāna's house, one gives charity elsewhere, it is not the mark of true giving.
समाश्रितं हि यं विप्रं धर्माचारसमन्वितम् । सर्वोपायैः सुपुष्येत्तं सुदानैर्बहुभिर्नृप
One should nourish, by all means, the brāhmaṇa who has taken refuge, who is endowed with righteous conduct, with generous gifts and many offerings, O king.
न गणयेन्मूर्खं विद्वांसं पोष्यो विप्रः सदा भवेत् । सर्वैः पुण्यैः समायुक्तं सुदानैर्बहुभिर्नृप
One should not count the ignorant; the learned brāhmaṇa should always be supported, endowed with all virtues, with generous gifts and many offerings, O king.
तं समभ्यर्च्य विद्वांसं प्राप्तं विप्रं सदार्हयेत् । तं हि त्यक्त्वा ददेद्दानमन्यस्मै ब्राह्मणाय वै
Having honored the learned brāhmaṇa who has arrived, one should always respect him; if, abandoning him, one gives charity to another brāhmaṇa,
दत्तं हुतं भवेत्तस्य निष्फलं नात्र संशयः । ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यः शूद्रश्चापि चतुर्थकः
The gift and offering made in that case become fruitless—there is no doubt; whether brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, or even the fourth, śūdra,
पुण्यकालेषु सर्वेषु संश्रितं पूजयेद्द्विजम् । मूर्खं वापि हि विद्वांसं तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु
At all auspicious times, one should honor the brāhmaṇa who has taken refuge, whether ignorant or learned; listen to the merit gained thereby.
अश्वमेधस्य यज्ञस्य फलं तस्य प्रजायते । कस्माद्धिकारणाद्राजञ्छक्यं प्राप्य न कारयेत्
The fruit of the horse-sacrifice is obtained by him; for what reason, O king, is it possible to attain but not to perform?
अन्यो विप्रः समायातस्तत्कालं श्राद्धकर्मणि । उभौ तौ पूजयेत्तत्र भोजनाच्छादनैस्ततः
If another brāhmaṇa arrives at the time of the śrāddha rite, both should be honored there with food and clothing.
तांबूलदक्षिणाभिश्च पितरस्तस्य हर्षिताः । श्राद्धभुक्ताय दातव्यं सदा दानं च दक्षिणा
With betel and gifts, the ancestors are delighted; after the śrāddha is eaten, charity and gifts should always be given.
न ददेच्छ्राद्धकर्ता यो गोहत्यादि समं भवेत् । द्वावेतौ पूजयेत्तस्माच्छ्रद्धया नृपसत्तम
If the performer of śrāddha does not give, it is equal to cow-slaughter and other sins; therefore, O best of kings, both should be honored with faith.
निर्द्धनत्व प्रभावाद्वै तमेकं हि प्रपूजयेत् । व्यतीपातेपि संप्राप्ते वैधृतौ च नृपोत्तम
Due to the influence of poverty, one may honor only one; even when transgression or irregularity occurs, O foremost of kings.
अमावास्यां तथा राजन्क्षयाहे परपक्षके । श्राद्धमेवं प्रकर्तव्यं ब्राह्मणादि त्रिवर्णकैः
O King, likewise on the new moon day, at the time of decay, and during the fortnight of the other side, the rite of śrāddha should be performed by the three classes beginning with the Brāhmaṇa.
यज्ञे तथा महाराज ऋत्विजश्च प्रकारयेत् । तथा विप्राः प्रकर्तव्याः श्राद्धदानाय सर्वदा
In a sacrifice, O great King, the officiating priests should arrange accordingly; likewise, Brāhmaṇas must always be appointed for the giving of śrāddha.
अविज्ञातः प्रकर्तव्यो ब्राह्मणो नैव जानता । यस्यापि ज्ञायते वंशः कुलं त्रिपुरुषं तथा
A Brāhmaṇa whose lineage is unknown should be appointed, even if not recognized; but if his ancestry, family, and three generations are known,
आचारश्च तथा राजंस्तं विप्रं सन्निमंत्रयेत् । कुलं न ज्ञायते यस्य आचारेण विचारयेत्
And his conduct, O King, then that Brāhmaṇa should be invited; if his family is not known, he should be judged by his behavior.
श्राद्धदाने प्रकर्तव्ये विशुद्धो मूर्ख एव हि । अविज्ञातो भवेद्विप्रो वेदवेदांगपारगः
When giving śrāddha, even an ignorant but pure Brāhmaṇa may be appointed; an unknown Brāhmaṇa who is accomplished in the Vedas and their branches is also suitable.
श्राद्धदानं प्रकर्तव्यं तस्माद्विप्रं निमंत्रयेत् । आतिथ्यं तु प्रकर्तव्यमपूर्वं नृपसत्तम
Therefore, the giving of śrāddha should be performed, and thus a Brāhmaṇa must be invited; O best of kings, hospitality should be extended even to one not previously known.
अन्यथा कुरुते पापी स याति नरकं ध्रुवम् । तस्माद्विप्रः प्रकर्तव्यो दाने श्राद्धे च पर्वसु
If one acts otherwise, he is sinful and certainly goes to hell; therefore, a Brāhmaṇa must be appointed for giving and for śrāddha at sacred times.
आदौ परीक्षयेद्विप्रं श्राद्धे दाने प्रकारयेत् । नाश्नंति तस्य वै गेहे पितरो विप्रवर्जिताः
First, the Brāhmaṇa should be examined, and then appointed for śrāddha and giving; the ancestors do not partake in the house where there is an absence of Brāhmaṇas.