मयूरं तित्तिरं चैव कपोतं च कपिंजलम् । वार्ध्रीणसं बकं भक्ष्यं मीनं हंसं पराजितम्
The peacock, the partridge, the dove, the francolin, the vulture, the crane, the fish, the swan, and the partridge are permitted as food.
शफरी सिंहतुंडं च तथा पाठीनरोहितौ । मत्स्याश्चैते समुद्दिष्टा भक्षणीया द्विजोत्तमाः
The śapharī fish, the siṃhatuṇḍa, as well as the pāṭhīna and rohiṭa—these fish are declared as edible for the best of the twice-born.
प्रोक्षितं भक्षयेदेषां मांसं च द्विजकाम्यया । यथाविधि प्रयुक्तं च प्राणानामपि चात्यये
One may eat the flesh of these, after purification, if a twice-born desires, as prescribed, and even in situations of life-threatening danger.
भक्षयेन्नैव मांसानि शेषभोजी न लिप्यते । औषधार्थमशक्तो वा नियोगाद्यज्ञकारणात्
One should not eat other kinds of flesh; the one who eats leftovers is not tainted, whether for medicinal purposes, inability, by command, or for the sake of sacrifice.
आमंत्रितश्च यः श्राद्धे दैवे वा मांसमुत्सृजेत् । यावंति पशुरोमाणि तावन्नरकमृच्छति
If one invited to a śrāddha or divine rite rejects meat, for as many hairs as are on the animal, for that many years he goes to hell.
अदेयं वाप्यपेयं वा तथैवास्पृश्यमेव वा । द्विजातीनामनालोक्यं नित्यं मद्यमिति स्थितिः
That which is not to be given, not to be drunk, or not to be touched—such is always forbidden for the twice-born; this is the rule regarding liquor.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन मद्यं नित्यं विवर्जयेत् । पीत्वा पतति कर्म्मभ्यस्त्वसंभाष्यो भवेद्द्विजः
Therefore, one should always avoid liquor with all effort; having drunk, a twice-born falls from duty and becomes unfit for association.
भक्षयित्वाप्यभक्ष्याणि पीत्वाऽपेयान्यपि द्विजः । नाधिकारी भवेत्तावद्यावत्तन्न जहात्यधः
Even after eating the inedible or drinking the forbidden, a twice-born is not qualified until he fully abandons those acts.
तस्मात्परिहरेन्नित्यमभक्ष्याणि प्रयत्नतः । अपेयानि च विप्रो वै तथा चेद्याति रौरवम्
Therefore, a brāhmaṇa should always carefully avoid the inedible and the forbidden; if not, he goes to Raurava hell.
इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे स्वर्गखंडे भक्ष्याभक्ष्यनियमो नाम षट्पंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-sixth chapter named 'The Rule of Edible and Inedible' in the Svargakhaṇḍa of the glorious Padma Purāṇa.
व्यास उवाच- अथातः संप्रवक्ष्यामि दानधर्म्ममनुत्तमम् । ब्रह्मणाभिहितं पूर्वमृषीणां ब्रह्मवादिनाम्
Vyāsa said: Now, I shall explain the supreme law of giving, as formerly spoken by Brahmā to the sages who know Brahman.
अर्थानामुचितं पात्रे श्रद्धया प्रतिपादनम् । दानमित्यभिनिर्दिष्टं भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदम्
To offer wealth appropriately, with faith, to a worthy recipient is called 'dāna'—giving—which bestows both enjoyment and liberation.
यो ददाति विशिष्टेभ्यः श्रद्धया परया युतः । तद्वै दत्तमहं मन्ये शेषं कस्यापि रक्षति
He who gives with supreme faith to the distinguished—such a gift I consider true giving; the rest is preserved for someone else.
नित्यं नैमित्तिकं काम्यं त्रिविधं दानमुच्यते । चतुर्थं विमलं प्रोक्तं सर्वदानोत्तमोत्तमम्
Giving is said to be of three kinds: regular, occasional, and desire-motivated; the fourth, called pure, is declared the highest of all gifts.
अहन्यहनि यत्किंचिद्दीयते नुपकारिणे । अनुद्दिश्यफलं तस्माद्ब्राह्मणाय तु नित्यकम्
Whatever is given daily, without expectation of return, to a brāhmaṇa, not aiming at a specific result, is called regular giving.
यत्तु पापोपशांत्यर्थं दीयते विदुषां करे । नैमित्तिकं तदुद्दिष्टं दानं सद्भिरनुत्तमम्
That which is given for the removal of sin, into the hands of the wise, is called occasional giving, and is praised by the virtuous as supreme.
अपत्यविजयैश्वर्य सुखार्थं यत्प्रदीयते । दानं तत्काम्यमाख्यातमृषिभिर्धर्मचिंतकैः
That which is given for the sake of offspring, victory, wealth, or happiness is called desire-motivated giving by the sages devoted to dharma.
यदीश्वरस्य प्रीत्यर्थं ब्रह्मवित्सु प्रदीयते । चेतसा धर्मयुक्तेन दानं तद्विमलं शिवम्
That which is given to the knowers of Brahman, with a mind joined to righteousness, for the pleasure of the Lord, is called pure and auspicious giving.
दानधर्मं निषेवेत पात्रमासाद्य शक्तितः । उपास्यते तु तत्पात्रं यत्तारयति सर्वतः
One should practice the duty of giving, upon finding a worthy recipient and according to one's ability; indeed, that recipient is to be revered who delivers one from all troubles.
कुटुंबभुक्तिवसनाद्देयं यदतिरिच्यते । अन्यथा दीयते यद्वै न तद्दानं फलप्रदम्
Whatever exceeds the needs of one's family for food and clothing should be given; if given otherwise, such a gift does not yield its proper fruit.
श्रोत्रियाय कुलीनाय विनीताय तपस्विने । व्रतस्थाय दरिद्राय प्रदेयं भक्तिपूर्वकम्
A gift should be given with devotion to a learned, noble, humble, austere, vow-observing, or poor person.
यस्तु दद्यान्महीं भक्त्या ब्राह्मणायाहिताग्नये । स याति परमं स्थानं यत्र गत्वा न शोचति
He who gives land with devotion to a Brahmin who maintains the sacred fire attains the highest state, where, having reached, he does not grieve.
इक्षुभिः संयुतां भूमिं यवगोधूमशालिनीम् । ददाति वेदविदुषे यः स भूयो न जायते
He who gives land rich with sugarcane, barley, wheat, or rice to a knower of the Vedas is not born again.
गोचर्ममात्रामपि वा यो भूमिं संप्रयच्छति । ब्राह्मणाय दरिद्राय सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
Even one who gives as much land as a cowhide to a poor Brahmin is freed from all sins.
भूमिदानात्परं दानं विद्यते नेह किंचन । अन्नदानं तेन तुल्यं विद्यादानं ततोधिकम्
There is no gift in this world greater than the gift of land; the gift of food is equal to it, and the gift of knowledge is superior to both.
यो ब्राह्मणाय शांताय शुचये धर्मशीलिने । ददाति विद्यां विधिना ब्रह्मलोके महीयते
He who gives knowledge, according to rule, to a peaceful, pure, and righteous Brahmin is honored in the world of Brahma.
दद्यादहरहः स्वर्णं श्रद्धया ब्रह्मचारिणे । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो ब्रह्मणः स्थानमाप्नुयात्
He who gives gold daily with faith to a celibate Brahmin, being freed from all sins, attains the abode of Brahma.
गृहस्थायान्नदानेन फलमाप्नोति मानवः । अन्नमेवास्य दातव्यं दत्वाप्नोति परां गतिम्
By giving food to a householder, a person attains merit; one should give only food, and by giving it, attains the supreme goal.
वैशाख्यां पूर्णमास्यां तु ब्राह्मणान्सप्त पंच वा । उपोष्य विधिना शांतः शुचिः प्रयतमानसः
On the full moon of Vaiśākha, having fasted according to rule, being peaceful, pure, and with concentrated mind, one should honor seven or five Brahmins.
पूजयित्वा तिलैः कृष्णैर्मधुना च विशेषतः । प्रीयतां धर्मराजेति यदा मनसि वर्त्तते
Having worshipped especially with black sesame seeds and honey, when the thought arises in the mind, 'May the King of Dharma be pleased,'