गृहदाताग्र्यवेश्मानि रूप्यदो रूपमुत्तमम् । वासोदश्चंद्रसालोक्यमश्वदो यानमुत्तमम्
The giver of a house attains splendid dwellings; the giver of silver, excellent beauty; the giver of clothing, the world of the moon; the giver of horses, the finest vehicle.
अन्नदाता श्रियं स्वेष्टां गोदो ब्राह्मणविष्टपम् । यानशय्याप्रदो भार्य्यामैश्वर्यमभयप्रदः
The giver of food attains desired prosperity; the giver of cows, the Brahman world; the giver of vehicles and beds, sovereignty over wives; the giver of fearlessness, security.
धान्यदः शाश्वतं सौख्यं ब्रह्मदो ब्रह्मशाश्वतम् । धान्यान्यपि यथाशक्ति विप्रेषु प्रतिपादयेत्
The giver of grain attains lasting happiness; the giver of Brahman, eternal Brahman; one should also give grains to Brahmins according to one's ability.
वेदविद्याविशिष्टेषु प्रेत्य स्वर्गं समश्नुते । गवां चान्नप्रदानेन सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
One who gives to those distinguished in Vedic knowledge attains heaven after death; by giving cows and food, one is freed from all sins.
इंधनानां प्रदानेन दीप्ताग्निर्जायते नरः । फलमूलानि पानानि शाकानि विविधानि च
By giving fuel, a man attains a blazing fire; fruits, drinks, and various vegetables,
प्रदद्याद्ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तु मुदायुक्तः सदा भवेत् । औषधं स्नेहमाहारं रोगिणो रोगशांतये
should always be given to Brahmins with joy; medicine, oil, and food should be given to the sick for the relief of disease.
ददानो रोगरहितः सुखी दीर्घायुरेव च । असिपत्रवनं मार्गं क्षुरधारासमन्वितम्
The giver becomes free from disease, happy, and long-lived; the path through the forest of swords, lined with razor blades,
तीक्ष्णतापं च तरति छत्रोपानत्प्रदो नरः । यद्यदिष्टतमं लोके यच्चास्यापेक्षितं गृहे
and intense heat is crossed by one who gives umbrellas and footwear; whatever is most desired in the world, whatever is needed in the home,
तत्तद्गुणवते देयं तदेवाक्षयमिच्छता । अयने विषुवे चैव ग्रहणे चंद्रसूर्ययोः
should be given to those who possess those qualities; that alone becomes inexhaustible for one who desires it; at solstices, equinoxes, and during lunar and solar eclipses,
संक्रांत्यादिषु कालेषु दत्तं भवति चाक्षयम् । प्रयागादिषु तीर्थेषु पुण्येष्वायतनेषु च
at times such as transitions, gifts become inexhaustible; at holy places like Prayaga and in sacred temples,
दत्वा चाक्षयमाप्नोति नदीप्रस्रवणेषु च । दानधर्मात्परो धर्मो भूतानां नेह विद्यते
by giving at river sources, one attains inexhaustibility; among all duties, the duty of giving is supreme for beings in this world.
तस्माद्विप्राय दातव्यं श्रोत्रियाय द्विजातिभिः । स्वर्गाय भूतिकामेन तथा पापोपशांतये
Therefore, gifts should be given to Brahmins by those of the twice-born; for heaven, for prosperity, and for the pacification of sin.
मुमुक्षुणा तु दातव्यं ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तथान्वहम् । दीयमानं तु यो मोहाद्गोविप्राग्निसुरेषु च
One who seeks liberation should daily give to Brahmins; but whoever, out of delusion, withholds gifts from cows, Brahmins, fire, and gods—
निवारयत्यधर्मात्मा तिर्यग्योनिं व्रजेत सः । यस्तु द्रव्यार्जनं कृत्वा नार्चयेद्ब्राह्मणान्सुरान्
—that unrighteous person prevents the giving and is born in an animal womb. But one who acquires wealth and does not honor Brahmins or gods—
सर्वस्वमपहृत्यैनं राजा राष्ट्रात्प्रवासयेत् । यस्तु दुर्भिक्षवेलायामन्नाद्यं न प्रयच्छति
—the king should confiscate all his possessions and banish him from the kingdom. And whoever, during a time of famine, does not give food—
म्रियमाणेषु विप्रेषु ब्राह्मणः स तु गर्हितः । न तस्मात्प्रतिगृह्णीयुः न वसेयुश्च तेन हि
—when Brahmins are dying, that Brahmin is condemned; others should neither accept from him nor live with him.
आज्ञायित्वा स्वकाद्राष्ट्राद्राजा तं विप्रवासयेत् । पश्चात्सद्भ्यो ददातीह स्वद्रव्यं धर्मसाधनम्
Having learned of this, the king should expel him from his own realm. Afterwards, one should give their own wealth here to the worthy as a means of righteousness.
सपूर्वाभ्यधिकः पापी नरके पच्यते नरः । स्वाध्यायवंतो ये विप्रा विद्यावंतो जितेंद्रियाः
A man who gives later, after such a fault, suffers in hell, worse than before. Brahmins who are learned, self-controlled, and disciplined—
सत्यसंयमसंयुक्तास्तेभ्यो दद्याद्द्विजोत्तमाः । प्रभुक्तमपि विद्वांसं धार्मिकं भोजयेद्द्विजम्
—endowed with truth and restraint, to them, the best of twice-born, one should give. Even if already fed, one should offer food to a learned and righteous Brahmin.
न च मूर्खमवृत्तस्थं दशरात्रमुपोषितम् । सन्निकृष्टमतिक्रम्य श्रोत्रियं यः प्रयच्छति
But not to a fool, one without conduct, or one who has fasted for ten nights. Whoever, bypassing one nearby, gives to a learned Brahmin—
स तेन कर्मणा पापी दहत्यासप्तमं कुलम् । यदि स्यादधिको विप्रः शीलविद्यादिभिः स्वयम्
—by that act, he becomes sinful and burns up to the seventh generation of his family. If there is a Brahmin superior in character, knowledge, and so on—
तस्मै यत्नेन दातव्यमतिक्रम्य च सन्निधिम् । योर्चितं प्रतिगृह्णीयाद्दद्यादर्चितमेव च
—to him, one should give with effort, even bypassing one who is merely present. One should accept what is offered with respect, and give likewise to the honored.
तावुभौ गच्छतः स्वर्गं नरकं तु विपर्यये । न वार्यपि प्रयच्छेत नास्तिके हैतुकेपि च
Both giver and receiver thus attain heaven; in the reverse case, they go to hell. One should not give even water to atheists or those who argue against the Veda.
न पाखंडेषु सर्वेषु नावेदविदिधर्मवित् । रूप्यं चैव हिरण्यं च गामश्वं पृथिवीं तिलान्
Nor to all heretics, nor to those ignorant of the Veda or dharma. Silver, gold, cows, horses, land, and sesame—
अविद्वान्प्रतिगृह्णीयाद्भस्मी भवति काष्ठवत् । द्विजातिभ्यो धनं लिप्सेत्प्रशस्तेभ्यो द्विजोतमः
—if accepted by the unlearned, become ashes like wood. A twice-born should seek wealth from the worthy, the best of Brahmins—
अपि राजन्यवैश्याभ्यां न तु शूद्रात्कथंचन । वृत्तिसंकोचमन्विच्छेन्नेहेत धनविस्तरम्
—even from Kshatriyas and Vaishyas, but never from a Shudra in any way. He should seek a modest livelihood, not strive for great wealth.
धनलोभे प्रसक्तस्तु ब्राह्मण्यादेव हीयते । वेदानधीत्य सकलान्यज्ञांश्चावाप्य सर्वशः
Attached to greed for wealth, he falls away from Brahminhood. Even having studied all the Vedas and performed every sacrifice—
न तां गतिमवाप्नोति संतोषाद्यामवाप्नुयात् । प्रतिग्रहरुचिर्न स्याच्छूद्रान्न तु समाहरेत्
—he does not attain that state which comes from contentment. He should not desire gifts from Shudras, nor collect from them.
स्थित्यर्थादधिकं गृह्णन्ब्राह्मणो यात्यधोगतिम् । यस्तु याति न संतोषं न स स्वर्गस्य भाजनम्
A Brahmin who accepts more than needed for subsistence goes to a lower state. One who is never content is not fit for heaven.
उद्वेजयति भूतानि यथा चौरस्तथैव सः । गुरुं भृत्यांश्चोज्जिहीर्षुस्तर्पयन्देवतातिथीन्
He disturbs living beings just like a thief. One who seeks to deprive his teacher or servants, while feeding gods and guests—