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,'
यावज्जीवं तु यत्पापं तत्क्षणादेव नश्यति । कृष्णाजिने तिलान्कृत्वा हिरण्यं मधुसर्पिषी
Whatever sin has been committed throughout one's life is destroyed at that very moment; by offering black antelope skin, sesame seeds, gold, honey, and clarified butter,
ददाति यस्तु विप्राय सर्वं तरति दुष्कृतम् । घृतान्नमुदकुंभं च वैशाख्यां तु विशेषतः
Whoever gives all these to a Brahmin crosses over all evil deeds, especially by giving clarified butter rice and a water pot in Vaiśākha.
निर्द्दिश्य धर्मराजाय विप्रेभ्यो मुच्यते भयात् । सुवर्णतिलयुक्तैस्तु ब्राह्मणान्सप्त पंच वा
By dedicating them to the King of Dharma and giving to Brahmins, one is freed from fear; by satisfying seven or five Brahmins with gold and sesame seeds,
तर्पयेदुदपात्रैस्तु ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति । माघमासे तमिस्रे तु द्वादश्यां समुपोषितः
By satisfying them with vessels of water, one removes the sin of killing a Brahmin; in the dark fortnight of the month of Māgha, on the twelfth day, having fasted,
शुक्लांबरधरः कृष्णैस्तिलैर्हुत्वा हुताशनम् । प्रदद्याद्ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तु तिलानेव समाहितः
Wearing white garments, having offered black sesame seeds into the sacred fire, one should attentively give sesame seeds to Brahmins.
जन्मप्रभृति यत्पापं सर्वं तरति वै द्विजः । अमावास्यामनुप्राप्य ब्राह्मणाय तपस्विने
A twice-born who does so crosses over all sins committed since birth; upon the new moon, having approached an austere Brahmin,
यत्किंचिद्देवदेवेशं दद्याच्चोद्दिश्य केशवम् । प्रीयतामीश्वरो विष्णुर्हृषीकेशः सनातनः
Whatever is offered, even a little, to the Lord of gods with devotion to Keśava, may the eternal Lord Viṣṇu, Hṛṣīkeśa, be pleased.
सप्तजन्मकृतं पापं तत्क्षणादेव नश्यति । यस्तु कृष्णचतुर्दश्यां स्नात्वा देवं पिनाकिनम्
The sin accumulated over seven lifetimes is destroyed instantly for one who, on Kṛṣṇa Caturdaśī, bathes and worships the god Pinākin.
आराधयेद्द्विजमुखेन तस्यास्ति पुनर्भवः । कृष्णाष्टम्यां विशेषेण धार्मिकाय द्विजातये
He who worships through the mouth of a brāhmaṇa attains liberation; especially on Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī, one should honor a righteous brāhmaṇa.
स्नात्वाभ्यर्च्य यथान्यायं पादप्रक्षालनादिभिः । प्रीयतां मे महादेवो दद्याद्द्रव्यं स्वकीयकम्
Having bathed and worshipped properly, with rituals such as washing the feet, one should offer one's own possessions so that the great god may be pleased.