अमृताज्जज्ञिरे सर्वा ओषध्यः पुष्टिहेतवः । अन्नमेव सुसंस्कृत्य औषधव्यंजनान्वितम्
All these nourishing herbs, sources of strength, are born from nectar; food, well-prepared and combined with medicinal vegetables,
देवेभ्यो विष्णुरूपेभ्य इति संकल्प्य दीयते । पितृभ्यो विष्णुरूपेभ्यो हस्ते च ब्राह्मणस्य हि
is to be given with the resolve, 'to the gods in the form of Viṣṇu,' and to the ancestors in the form of Viṣṇu, and into the hand of a brāhmaṇa.
अतिथिभ्यस्ततो दत्वा परिजनं प्रभोजयेत् । स्वयं तु भुंजते पश्चात्तदन्नममृतोपमम्
After giving to guests, one should feed one's attendants; then, afterwards, one may eat that food oneself, which is like nectar.
प्रेत्य दुःखं न चैवास्ति तस्य सौख्यं तु भूपते । ब्राह्मणाः पितरो देवाः क्षत्ररूपाश्च भूपते
After death, there is no suffering for him, O king, but happiness; brāhmaṇas, ancestors, gods, and kṣatriyas, O king,
यथा हि कर्षकः कश्चित्सुकृषिं कुरुते सदा । तद्वन्मर्त्यः कृषिं कुर्यात्क्षेत्रे विप्रास्यके नृप
Just as a farmer always cultivates a good field, so should a mortal cultivate the field of a brāhmaṇa, O king.
स्वभावलांगलेनापि श्रद्धा शस्त्रेण भेदयेत् । वृषभौ तु मतौ नित्यं बुद्धिश्चैव तपस्तथा
With the plough of one's own nature and the weapon of faith, one should break up the field; the two bulls are considered to be intellect and austerity.
सत्यज्ञानानुभावीशः शुद्धात्मा तु प्रतोदकः । विप्रनाम्नि महाक्षेत्रे नमस्कारैर्विसर्जयेत्
Truth, knowledge, experience, and lordship are the goad, and the pure self; in the great field named 'brāhmaṇa,' one should sow with reverence.
स्फोटयेत्कल्मषं नित्यं कृषिको हि यथा नृप । क्षेत्रस्य उद्यमे युक्तो विष्णुकामः प्रसादयेत्
Just as a farmer always removes impurities, so should one, O king, continually destroy sin; being diligent in the field, desiring Viṣṇu, one attains his favor.
तद्वद्वाक्यैः शुभैः पुण्यैर्विप्रांश्चापि प्रसादयेत् । पर्वतीर्थाप्तिकालश्च घनरूपोभिवर्षणे
In the same way, one should please the Brahmins with auspicious and virtuous words; and when the time for sowing in the mountain fields arrives, and the clouds pour down rain,
वप्तुकामो भवेत्क्षेत्री ततः क्षेत्रे प्रवापयेत् । तद्वद्भूपप्रसन्नाय विप्राय परिदीयते
the farmer, desiring to sow, irrigates the field; likewise, a gift is made to a Brahmin who is pleased, O King.
क्षेत्रस्य उप्तबीजस्य यथा क्षेत्री प्रभुंजति । फलमेव महाराज तथा दाता भुनक्ति च
Just as the farmer enjoys the fruit of the field where he has sown the seed, so too, O great King, does the giver enjoy the result.
प्रेत्य चात्रैव नित्यं च तृप्तो भवति नान्यथा । ब्राह्मणाः पितरो देवाः क्षेत्ररूपा न संशयः
Both after death and here itself, one is always satisfied—never otherwise; Brahmins, ancestors, and gods are indeed the forms of the field, without doubt.
मानवानां महाराज वापिताः प्रददंति च । फलमेवं न संदेहो यादृशं तादृशं ध्रुवम्
O great King, the irrigated fields of men surely yield fruit; there is no doubt that as is the action, so is the certain result.
कटुकाद्धि न जायेत राजन्मधुर एव च । तद्वच्च मधुराख्याच्च न जायेत्कटुकः पुनः
From something bitter, O King, sweetness does not arise; likewise, from what is called sweet, bitterness does not come forth again.
यादृशं वपते बीजं तादृशं फलमश्नुते । न वापयति यः क्षेत्रं न स भुंजति तत्फलम्
As is the seed that is sown, so is the fruit that is obtained; he who does not sow the field does not enjoy its fruit.
तद्वद्विप्राश्च देवाश्च पितरः क्षेत्ररूपिणः । दर्शयंति फलं राजन्दत्तस्यापि न संशयः
In the same way, O King, Brahmins, gods, and ancestors, being forms of the field, reveal the fruit of what is given—of this there is no doubt.
यादृशं हि कृतं कर्म त्वयैव च शुभाशुभम् । तादृशं भुंक्ष्व वै राजन्नन्यथा तन्न जायते
Whatever action, good or bad, you yourself have performed, O King, such is the result you must experience; it does not happen otherwise.
न पुरा देवविप्रेभ्यः पितृभ्यश्च कदाचन । मिष्टान्नपानमेवापि दत्तं सुमनसा तदा
Never before, to gods, Brahmins, or ancestors, have you ever given even delicious food or drink with a cheerful heart.
सुभोज्यैर्भोजनैर्मृष्टैर्मधुरैश्चोष्यपेयकैः । सुभक्ष्यैरात्मना भुक्तं कस्मै दत्तं न च त्वया
With excellent, well-cooked meals, sweet and enjoyable foods and drinks, you have eaten yourself, but not given to anyone else.
स्वशरीरं त्वया पुष्टमन्नैरमृतसन्निभैः । यस्मात्कृतं महाराज तस्मात्क्षुधा प्रवर्तते
You have nourished your own body with food like nectar, O King; because of this, hunger now arises for you.
कर्मैव कारणं राजन्नराणां सुखदुःखयोः । जन्ममृत्य्वोर्महाभाग भुंक्ष्व तत्कर्मणः फलम्
Action alone, O King, is the cause of happiness and sorrow for men; O greatly fortunate one, experience the fruit of your own deeds in birth and death.
पूर्वेपि च महात्मानो दिवं प्राप्ताः स्वकर्मणा । पुनः प्रयाता भूर्लोकं कर्मणः क्षयकालतः
Even in the past, great souls attained heaven by their own actions; but after their merit was exhausted, they returned again to the world of men.
नलो भगीरथश्चैव विश्वामित्रो युधिष्ठिरः । कर्मणैव हि संप्राप्ताः स्वर्गं राजन्स्वकालतः
Nala, Bhagiratha, Vishvamitra, and Yudhishthira—O King, they attained heaven at their proper time solely through their actions.
दिष्टं हि प्राक्तनं कर्म तेन दुःखं सुखं लभेत् । तदुल्लंघयितुं राजन्कः समर्थोपि हीश्वरः
Indeed, it is by previously determined action that one obtains happiness or suffering; O King, who, even among the gods, is able to transgress that?
अथ तस्मान्नृपश्रेष्ठ स्वर्गतस्यापि तेऽभवत् । क्षुत्तृष्णासंभवो वेगस्ततो दुष्टं हि कर्म ते
Therefore, O best of kings, even in heaven, hunger and thirst arose for you; this is because of your evil deeds.
यदि ते क्षुत्प्रतीकारो ह्यभीष्टो नृपसत्तम । तद्गत्वा भुंक्ष्व कायं स्वमानंदारण्यसंस्थितम्
If you desire relief from hunger, O best of kings, then go and consume your own body, which remains in the forest.
तव चेयं महाराज्ञी क्षुत्क्षामातीव दृश्यते । सुबाहुरुवाच- कियत्कालमिदं कर्म कर्तव्यं प्रियया सह
And this great queen of yours appears exceedingly emaciated by hunger. Subahu said: For how long must this action be performed together with my beloved?
तन्मे ब्रूहि महाभागानुग्रहो दृश्यते कदा । कस्य दानेन किं पुण्यं द्रव्यस्य मुनिसत्तम
Therefore, tell me, O most fortunate one, when will your favor be seen? By the gift of what, and of which substance, O best of sages, is merit obtained?
तत्प्रब्रूहि महाप्राज्ञ यदि तुष्टोसि सांप्रतम् । वामदेव उवाच- अन्नदानान्महासौख्यमुदकस्य महामते
Tell me that, O most wise one, if you are pleased at this moment. Vamadeva said: Through the gift of food, O greatly intelligent one, there is supreme happiness, and through the gift of water—
भुंजंति मर्त्याः स्वर्गं वै पीड्यंते नैव पातकैः । यदा दानं न दत्तं तु भवेदपि हि मानवैः
Mortals enjoy heaven and are not afflicted by sins. But when a gift is not given by men—