दानमेव परं श्रेष्ठं सर्वपुण्येषु वै द्विज । दानेन नश्यते पापं सर्वं दानेन लभ्यते
Among all virtuous acts, giving is truly the highest, O twice-born; by giving, all sin is destroyed, and by giving, all is obtained.
नित्यं नैमित्तिकं काम्यमन्यदभ्युदयात्मकम् । अन्यं च परमं दानमिति पंचविधं स्मृतम्
Giving is remembered as fivefold: perpetual, occasional, desire-motivated, for prosperity, and the supreme form of giving.
प्रातर्मध्यापराह्णेषु त्रिषु कालेषु यत्नतः । यत्किंचिदपि दातव्यं नित्यमेव प्रकीर्तितम्
At dawn, midday, and dusk, one should diligently give something, however small; this is always declared as perpetual giving.
शून्यं दिनं न कर्तव्यमात्मार्थं हितमिच्छताम् । यस्मिन्कुले तु दत्तं यत्तत्रतत्रोपतिष्ठति
Those who desire their own welfare should not let a day pass empty for themselves; whatever is given in a family, that benefit arises there.
यः स्वयं भक्षयेन्मोहाददत्वा बुद्धिवर्जितः । उत्पादयाम्यहं रोगं तस्य भोगनिवारणम्
He who, out of delusion and lacking discernment, eats himself without giving, I generate disease for him as an obstacle to his enjoyment.
तेषु कार्येषु संतुष्टं बहुपीडाप्रदायकम् । मंदानलेन संयुक्तं द्वारं संतापकारकम्
For such a person, I create a door of suffering, joined with a slow fire, causing much distress, and bringing dissatisfaction in their actions.
त्रिषु कालेषु नो दत्तं ब्राह्मणेषु सुरेषु यैः । स्वयं तु भुंजते मिष्टं पापं तैस्तु महत्कृतम्
Those who do not give to Brahmins or gods at the three times, but themselves eat delicious food, commit great sin.
प्रायश्चित्तेन रौद्रेण तानहं परिशोधये । उपवासैर्महीदेव कायशोषकरादिकैः
With harsh penances, I purify them—through fasts and other acts that dry up the body, O lord of the earth.
चर्मकारो यथा चर्मकुंडस्योपरि निर्घृणे । शोधयेच्च कशाद्यैश्च कुद्रव्यं स्फोटयेद्यथा
Just as a tanner, without pity, scrapes a hide with a knife, or bursts bad material, so do I purify.
तथाहं पापकर्तारं शोधयामि न संशयः । औषधीनां सुयोगैश्च कषायैः कटुकैर्ध्रुवम्
In the same way, I purify the doer of evil—there is no doubt—using proper medicines and certainly with bitter decoctions.
उष्णोदकैश्च संतापैर्वैद्यरूपेण नान्यथा । अन्ये भुंजंति तस्याग्रे भोगानन्यान्मनोगतान्
And with hot water and torments, in the form of a physician, and not otherwise; others enjoy the pleasures he desires before him.
किं करोमि समर्थश्च न दत्तं दानमुत्तमम् । महता रोगरूपेण तमेनं परिवारयेत्
What should I do, though capable, if the highest gift is not given? I surround him with great disease in that form.
नित्यकालस्य यद्दानमात्मानं पापिभिर्यथा । न दत्तं च महीदेव श्रद्धया निजशक्तितः
If, at the proper time, giving is not done by sinners, O lord of the earth, with faith and according to their ability—
तथायातान्प्रधक्ष्येतानुपायैर्दारुणैः किल । नैमित्तिकं प्रवक्ष्यामि दानकालं तवाग्रतः
Then I will burn such people with harsh means; now I will tell you about occasional giving and its proper times.
महापर्वणि संप्राप्ते तीर्थप्राप्तौ तथैव च । पितुः क्षयाहदिवसे वैशाखादिषु यत्नतः
When a great festival arrives, or upon reaching a sacred place, or on the day of a father's death, especially in the auspicious months like Vaiśākha—
मासेषु पुण्यकालेषु दानं नैमित्तिकं स्मृतम् । काम्यकालं प्रवक्ष्यामि यद्दानं फलदायकम्
Giving at auspicious times in the months is considered occasional giving; now I will tell you about desire-motivated giving, which yields results.
व्रतादिकं समुद्दिश्य कामनाफलकल्पितम् । यत्कामं कथितं सम्यक्सर्वांगैरेव संगतम्
That which is given with a specific vow or for the sake of a desired result, as has been properly described, and is complete in every respect—
तस्य दानप्रभावेण भावनापरिभावितः । तादृक्फलं समश्नाति मानुषस्तत्प्रसादनात्
By the power of such giving, when imbued with proper intention, a person enjoys the corresponding result through that favor.
आभ्युदयं प्रवक्ष्यामि यच्च यज्ञादिषु स्मृतम् । जातकर्मादिकार्येषु मौञ्ज्याद्युद्वाहकर्मसु
I will explain the means of prosperity, and what is prescribed regarding sacrifices and other rites, in ceremonies such as birth-rites, the investiture with the sacred thread, and marriage.
प्रासादध्वजदेवानां प्रतिष्ठासु प्रयत्नतः । इत्यादिकं महीदेव दानमभ्युदयात्मकम्
In the consecration of temples, banners, and images of deities, and similar acts, O king, the giving of gifts is considered a source of prosperity.
प्रजावृद्धिकरं भोगयशःस्वर्गसुखप्रदम् । अंत्यं चैव प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणु दानं द्विजोत्तम
Such giving increases offspring, grants enjoyment, fame, heavenly happiness, and I will also explain the final kind of gift—listen, O best of the twice-born.
कामस्य संक्षयं ज्ञात्वा जरया परिपीडितः । दद्याद्दानानि यत्नेन कुर्यादाशां न कस्यचित्
Recognizing the decline of desire and afflicted by old age, one should give gifts with effort, and not place hope in anyone.
मृते च मयि मे पुत्रा जायाबांधवसोदराः । कथमेते भविष्यंति मां विना सुहृदो मम
When I am dead, how will my sons, wife, relatives, and brothers fare? How will my friends live without me?
अहं वित्तविहीनो वा कथं जीवन्पुनस्तथा । भविष्यामीति विज्ञाय न ददाति हि किंचन
Or, if I am without wealth, how will I live again? Thinking thus, one gives nothing at all.
आशापाशशतैर्बद्धो भाग्यादेव कुमायया । मृत्युं प्रयाति मूढात्मा रुदंति च ततः सुताः
Bound by hundreds of cords of hope, and by misfortune and ignorance, the deluded soul goes to death, and then his children weep.
दुःखेन पीडिताः किचिंन्मोहेनाकुलचेतसः । स्वल्पमल्पं च वा दानं कथंचित्कल्पयंति ते
Afflicted by sorrow and confused by delusion, with troubled minds, they somehow arrange a small and meager gift.
न तत्रास्मिन्गते काले महादुःखगते सति । विस्मरंति तदा दानं लोभाद्वा न ददत्यपि
But at that time, in the midst of great suffering, they forget about giving, or out of greed, they do not give at all.
मृतोऽयं च पिता ज्ञात्वा स्नेहपाशो निवर्त्तते । योऽसौ मृतो महीदेव मम पाशैर्नियंत्रितः
Knowing that their father is dead, the bond of affection is broken; he who has died, O king, was bound by their ties.
तृष्णा क्षुधा समाक्रांतो बहुदुःखैः प्रपीडितः । पच्यते नरके घोरे चिरकालं न संशयः
Overcome by thirst and hunger, tormented by many sufferings, he is cooked in a dreadful hell for a long time—there is no doubt.
तस्माद्दानं प्रदातव्यं स्वयमेव न संशयः । कस्य पुत्राश्च पौत्राश्च कस्य भार्या धनं च वा
Therefore, one must give gifts oneself, without doubt; whose are sons and grandsons, whose is wife or wealth?