प्रविशंति नरा लोके समुद्रमटवीं तथा । सेवामन्ये प्रपद्यंतेऽश्ववृत्तिरिति या स्थिता
Men enter the ocean or the forest in this world, and others take up service, which is considered a base occupation.
हिंसाप्रायां बहुक्लेशां कृषिं चैव तथा पुरा । तस्य दुःखार्जितस्यापि प्राणेभ्योपि गरीयसः
They undertake agriculture, which is full of violence and much hardship; even so, the wealth gained with such suffering is dearer than life itself.
अर्थस्य पुरुषव्याघ्र परित्यागः सुदुष्करः । विशेषतो महाराज तस्य न्यायार्जितस्य च
O tiger among men, the renunciation of wealth is exceedingly difficult, especially, O great king, when that wealth has been justly earned.
श्रद्धया विधिवत्पात्रे दत्तस्यांतो न विद्यते । श्रद्धा धर्मसुता देवी पावनी विश्वतारिणी
When given with faith, properly, to a worthy recipient, its fruit has no end; faith is the daughter of Dharma, a goddess, purifier, and savior of all.
सावित्री प्रसवित्री च संसारार्णवतारिणी । श्रद्धया साध्यते धर्मो महद्भिर्न्नार्थराशिभिः
She is Sāvitrī, the mother of creation, who carries across the ocean of worldly existence; righteousness is accomplished through faith, not by heaps of wealth.
निष्किंचनास्तु मुनयः श्रद्धाधर्मा दिवं गताः । संति दानान्यनेकानि नानाभेदैर्नृपोत्तम
The sages, though possessing nothing, attained heaven by faith and righteousness; there are many kinds of gifts, of various sorts, O best of kings.
अन्नदानात्परं नास्ति प्राणिनां गतिदायकम् । तस्मादन्नं प्रदातव्यं पयसा च समन्वितम्
There is no gift greater than the giving of food, which grants passage to living beings; therefore, food should be given, accompanied by milk.
मधुरेणापि पुण्येन वचसा च समन्वितम् । नास्त्यन्नात्तु परं दानमिहलोके परत्र च
And with sweet merit, and with kind words; there is no gift greater than food, either in this world or the next.
तारणाय हितायैव सुखसंपत्तिहेतवे । श्रद्धया विधिवत्पात्रे निर्मलेनापि चेतसा
For rescue, for benefit, and as the cause of happiness and prosperity, food should be given with faith, properly, to a worthy recipient, even with a pure mind.
अन्नैकस्य प्रदानस्य फलं भुंक्ते भवेन्नरः । ग्रासाद्ग्रासं प्रदातव्यं मुष्टिप्रस्थं न संशयः
By giving even a single portion of food, a man enjoys its fruit; food should be given mouthful by mouthful, or by handful, without doubt.
अक्षयं जायते तस्य दानस्यापि महाफलम् । न च प्रस्थं न वा मुष्टिं नरस्य हि न संभवेत्
The great fruit of that gift becomes inexhaustible; for a man, neither a handful nor a mouthful is impossible to give.
अनास्तिक्यप्रभावेण पर्वणि प्राप्य मानवः । श्रद्धया ब्राह्मणं चैकं भक्त्या चैव प्रभोजयेत्
If, due to the influence of disbelief, a man attains a festival, he should feed even one Brahmin with faith and devotion.
एकस्यापि प्रधानस्य अन्नस्यापि प्रजेश्वर । जन्मांतरं सुसंप्राप्य नित्यं चान्नं प्रभुंजति
O lord of people, by giving even a single principal portion of food, one attains a good rebirth and always enjoys food.
पूर्वजन्मनि यद्दत्तं भक्त्या पात्रे सकृन्नरैः । जन्मांतरं सुसंप्राप्य नित्यमेव भुनक्ति च
Whatever was given with devotion, even once, to a worthy recipient in a previous birth, one attains a good rebirth and always enjoys it.
अन्नदानं प्रयच्छंति ब्राह्मणेभ्यो हि नित्यशः । मिष्टान्नपानं भुंजंति ते नरा अन्नदायिनः
People who continually offer food to Brahmins themselves enjoy delicious food and drink; those who give food are blessed.
अन्नमेव वदंत्येत ऋषयो वेदपारगाः । प्राणभूतं न संदेहममृताद्धि समुद्भवम्
The sages who are versed in the Vedas declare that food alone is essential; there is no doubt that it is the source of life, arising from ambrosia.
प्राणास्तेन प्रदत्ता हि येन चान्नं समर्पितम् । अन्नदानं महाराज देहि त्वं तु प्रयत्नतः
By offering food, one gives life itself; therefore, O great king, you should diligently give the gift of food.
एवमाकर्ण्य वै राजा जैमिनेस्तु महात्मनः । पुनः पप्रच्छ तं विप्रं जैमिनिं ज्ञानपंडितम्
Hearing this, the king listened to the noble Jaimini and again questioned that learned sage, Jaimini.
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने गुरुतीर्थमाहात्म्ये च्यवनचरित्रे चतुर्नवतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the ninety-fourth chapter, the story of Cyavana, in the section on the greatness of Guru Tirtha, within the narrative of Vena, in the Bhumi Khanda of the glorious Padma Purana.
सुबाहुरुवाच- स्वर्गस्य मे गुणान्ब्रूहि सांप्रतं द्विजसत्तम । एतत्सर्वं द्विजश्रेष्ठ करिष्यामि स्वभाविकम्
Subahu said: O best of twice-born, tell me now the qualities of heaven; O foremost Brahmin, I will naturally accomplish all this.
जैमिनिरुवाच- नंदनादीनि रम्याणि दिव्यानि विविधानि च । तत्रोद्यानानि पुण्यानि सर्वकामयुतानि च
Jaimini said: There are delightful and divine places such as Nandana and others; there are sacred gardens there, filled with every desired pleasure.
सर्वकामफलैर्वृक्षैः शोभनानि समंततः । विमानानि सुदिव्यानि सेवितान्यप्सरोगणैः
Everywhere are beautiful trees bearing all desired fruits, and splendid celestial palaces attended by groups of apsaras.
सर्वत्रैव विचित्राणि कामगानि वशानि च । तरुणादित्यवर्णानि मुक्ताजालांतराणि च
Everywhere are wondrous and wish-fulfilling things, subject to one's will, shining with the radiance of young suns and adorned with strands of pearls.
चंद्रमंडलशुभ्राणि हेमशय्यासनानि च । सर्वकामसमृद्धाश्च सर्वदुःखविवर्जिताः
There are beds and seats as bright as the moon's disc and made of gold, abundant in every pleasure and free from all suffering.
नराः सुकृतिनस्तेषु विचरंति यथा भुवि । न तत्र नास्तिका यांति न स्तेना नाजितेंद्रियाः
The virtuous people wander there as they do on earth; atheists, thieves, and those who have not mastered their senses do not go there.
न नृशंसा न पिशुना न कृतघ्ना न मानिनः । सत्यास्तपःस्थिताः शूरा दयावंतः क्षमापराः
There are no cruel, slanderous, ungrateful, or arrogant people; only truthful, ascetic, brave, compassionate, and patient ones.
यज्वानो दानशीलाश्च तत्र गच्छंति ते नराः । न रोगो न जरामृत्युर्न शोको न हिमातपौ
Those who perform sacrifices and are generous go there; there is no disease, old age, death, sorrow, cold, or heat.
न तत्र क्षुत्पिपासा च कस्य ग्लानिर्न विद्यते । एते चान्ये च बहवो गुणाः स्वर्गस्य भूपते
There is no hunger or thirst, nor does anyone feel fatigue; these and many other virtues belong to heaven, O king.
दोषास्तत्रैव ये संति ताञ्छृणुष्व च सांप्रतम् । शुभस्य कर्मणः कृत्स्नं फलं तत्रैव भुज्यते
Now hear of the faults that exist there; the complete fruit of virtuous deeds is enjoyed there.
न चात्र क्रियते भूयः सोऽत्र दोषो महान्स्मृतः । असंतोषश्च भवति दृष्ट्वा दीप्तां परां श्रियम्
No further actions are performed there; this is considered a great fault. Dissatisfaction arises upon seeing intense and supreme prosperity.