अर्चयित्वा हृषीकेशमेकादश्यां समाहितः । निष्प्राप्य गोमयं सम्यक्मंत्रवत्समुपासते
Having worshipped Hrishikesha with concentration on Ekadashi, if one cannot obtain cow dung, he should worship properly with mantras.
गोमूत्रं मंत्रवद्भूयो द्वादश्यां प्राशयेद्व्रती । क्षीरं तथा त्रयोदश्यां चतुर्दश्यां तथा दधि
On Dvadashi, the observer of the vow should again drink cow urine with mantras; on Trayodashi, milk; and on Chaturdashi, curd.
संप्राप्य पापशुद्ध्यर्थं लंघयित्वा चतुर्दिनम् । पंचमे तु दिने स्नात्वा विधिवत्पूज्य केशवम्
Having observed four days for the purification from sin, on the fifth day, after bathing and duly worshipping Keshava—
भोजयेद्ब्राह्मणान्भक्त्या तेभ्यो दद्याच्च दक्षिणाम् । ततो नक्तं समश्नीयात्पंचगव्यं सुमंत्रितम्
He should feed Brahmins with devotion and give them gifts; then, at night, he should eat the five products of the cow, properly sanctified with mantras.
एवं कर्तुमशक्तो यः फलमूलं च भोजनम् । कुर्याद्धविष्यं वा विप्र यथोक्तविधिना ह वै
O Brahmin, one who is unable to do so should eat fruits and roots, or partake of sacrificial food, according to the prescribed rule.
श्रीहरेः पंचकं विप्र कुर्याद्यस्तुलसीदलैः । पूजयेत्तं स विज्ञेयः स्वयं नारायणः प्रभुः
O Brahmin, whoever worships the Lord Hari with five offerings of tulasi leaves should be understood as worshipping Lord Narayana Himself.
पुरा त्रेतायुगे शूद्रो दस्युवृत्तिपरायणः । नाम्ना दंडकरो नित्यं धर्मनिंदां करोति यः
Long ago, in the Treta Yuga, there was a Shudra named Dandaka, always devoted to the ways of thieves, who constantly reviled righteousness.
असत्यभाषी मित्रघ्नो वेश्याविभ्रम लोलुपः । ब्रह्मस्वहारी क्रूरश्च परस्त्रीगमने रतः
He spoke falsely, killed friends, was lustful for prostitutes, stole the wealth of Brahmins, was cruel, and indulged in relations with others' wives.
शरणागतहंता च पाखंडजनसंगभाक् । गोमांसाशी सुरापश्च परनिंदाकरः सदा
He killed those who sought refuge, kept company with heretics, ate beef, drank liquor, and was always engaged in slandering others.
विश्वासघाती ज्ञातीनां वृत्तिच्छेदी द्विजोत्तम । दुष्टं सर्वे समालोक्य तादृशं तद्गृहे द्विजः
O best of Brahmins, he betrayed trust, destroyed the livelihood of his relatives, and, seeing such wickedness, all the relatives in that family—
आगता ज्ञातयः क्रुद्धास्तस्य पापपरायणम् । ज्ञातय ऊचुः। रे रे मूढ दुराचार विनाशं प्रतिनीयते । या प्रतिष्ठार्जिता पूर्वैरस्माकं निर्मलेऽन्वये
—became angry and said to that one devoted to sin: 'Hey, you foolish evildoer, you are bringing destruction upon the pure lineage established by our ancestors.'
इति क्रुद्धा द्विजश्रेष्ठ अपकीर्तिभयादपि । पापिनां प्रवरं सर्वे तत्यजुस्तं कुलादरम्
Thus enraged, O best of Brahmins, and out of fear of disgrace, all abandoned that foremost sinner, the disgrace of the family.
ततो गतो महारण्यं विनष्टाखिल वैभवः । कुर्यात्स दस्युभिः सार्द्धं दस्युकर्म निरंतरम्
Then, deprived of all wealth, he went to a great forest and continuously engaged in the deeds of thieves together with them.
पथि प्रगच्छतां तेषां भयाद्विप्र न खादितुम् । प्राप्तं किंचित्क्षुधार्त्तास्ते गताश्चान्य स्थलं प्रति
O Brahmin, as they traveled along the road, out of fear they could not eat anything they obtained, though tormented by hunger, and so they went to another place.
तत्र प्रविष्टास्ते सर्वे दृष्ट्वा पुण्यजनान्बहून् । धात्रीमूले स्थितान्ब्रह्मन्वैष्णवान्द्विजसत्तमान्
There, upon entering, they saw many virtuous people—O Brahmin, excellent Vaishnava Brahmins—standing at the foot of a fig tree.
सर्वे ते दस्यवो विप्र गता दंडकरोऽपि सः । तेषां परिसरं गत्वा प्रणामं वै चकार ह
All those thieves, along with Dandaka, approached their vicinity and offered their salutations.
दंडकर उवाच। क्षुधार्तोऽहं द्विजश्रेष्ठाः प्राणा यास्यंति मे ध्रुवम् । ददध्वं खादितुं किंचिद्युष्माकं शरणं गतः
Dandaka said: 'O best of Brahmins, I am tormented by hunger; surely my life will depart. Please give me something to eat, for I have come to you for refuge.'
आकर्ण्य वचनं तस्य चोचुस्ते धर्मतत्पराः । सर्वपापहरे त्वं च विख्याते विष्णुपंचके
Hearing his words, those devoted to righteousness replied: 'You are renowned as the destroyer of all sins in the Vishnu-panchaka.'
कथमन्नं खादितुं ते वांछा त्वद्य हरेर्दिने । विशेषं ते ब्रूहि संज्ञा काते भवति सांप्रतम्
'How is it that today, on the day of Hari, you desire to eat food? Tell us your name and what is your present situation.'
स उवाच मुदा विप्रा नाम्ना दंडकरोप्यहम् । सर्वपापसमायुक्तश्चोद्धारो मे कथं भवेत्
He replied joyfully: 'O Brahmins, I am called Dandaka, filled with all sins. How can I be delivered?'
ऊचुस्ते वै व्रतं श्रेष्ठं कुरुष्व विष्णुपंचकम् । विप्राणामाज्ञया विप्र चकार विष्णुपंचकम्
They said: 'Perform the excellent vow of the Vishnu-panchaka.' By the command of the Brahmins, he performed the Vishnu-panchaka.
स प्रेत्य च हरेः स्थानमारुह्य स्यंदने वरे । आसाद्य श्रीहरेरूपं तस्थौ जन्मविवर्जितः
After death, he ascended to the abode of Hari in a splendid chariot, attained the form of Lord Hari, and remained free from birth.
य इदं शृणुयाद्भक्त्या चाख्यानं पापनाशनम् । कोटिजन्मार्जितं पापं तस्य नश्यति तत्क्षणात्
Whoever listens with devotion to this narration, which destroys sin, has the sins accumulated over millions of lifetimes vanish in that very instant.
शौनक उवाच। विदुषांवर तत्त्वज्ञ कथयस्व महामते । इदानीं मम दानानां माहात्म्यं क्रमतो मुने
Śaunaka said: O foremost among the wise, knower of truth, tell me, O great-minded one, now in order, the greatness of gifts.
सूत उवाच। क्षितिदानं मुनिश्रेष्ठ दानानामुत्तमं मतम् । येन कृतं वै तद्दानं सर्वदानफलं मतम्
Sūta said: O best of sages, the gift of land is considered the highest among gifts; whatever is given as such is regarded as yielding the fruit of all gifts.
क्षितिं ससस्यां यो दद्याद्ब्राह्मणाय द्विजोत्तम । विष्णुलोके सुखं भुंक्ते यावदिंद्राश्चतुर्दश
Whoever gives land with crops to a brāhmaṇa, O best of twice-born, enjoys happiness in Viṣṇu's world for as long as the fourteen Indras reign.
पृथिव्यां जन्म चासाद्य सार्वभौमस्ततो नृपः । महीं सर्वां चिरं भुक्त्वा व्रजेद्वै श्रीहरेर्गृहम्
Having attained birth on earth, then becoming a sovereign king, after enjoying the entire land for a long time, he goes to the abode of Śrī Hari.
गोचर्ममात्रां भूमिं यः प्रयच्छति द्विजातये । स गच्छति हरेर्गेहं सर्वपापविवर्जितः
Whoever gives land the size of a cow's hide to a twice-born, he goes to Hari's abode, free from all sin.
शतं गावो वृषश्चैको यत्र तिष्ठंत्ययंत्रिताः । गोचर्ममात्रां तां भूमिं प्रवदंति महर्षयः
Where a hundred cows and a single bull stand unrestrained, that land the size of a cow's hide is spoken of by the great sages.
भूमिनेता भूमिदाता द्वौ चापि स्वर्गगामिनौ । ग्राह्या भूमिर्द्विजैः प्राज्ञैस्त्यक्त्वा दानशतान्यपि
Both the one who leads land and the one who gives land are destined for heaven; land should be accepted by wise twice-born, even forsaking hundreds of other gifts.