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?
संसारे नास्तिकः कस्य स्वयं तस्मात्प्रदीयते । पानमन्नं च तांबूलमुदकं कांचनं तथा
In this world, who truly belongs to whom? Therefore, one should give oneself: drink, food, betel, water, and gold as well.
वसनं गां च भूमिं च च्छत्रपात्राण्यनेकधा । फलानि भूमिदानानि विविधानि स्वशक्तितः
Clothing, cows, land, umbrellas, various vessels, fruits, and gifts of land in many forms, according to one's ability.
दातव्यानि महीदेव नात्र कार्या विचारणा । तीर्थानां लक्षणं विप्र प्रवक्ष्यामि तवाग्रतः
These should be given, O king; there should be no hesitation here. Now, O Brahmin, I will explain to you the characteristics of holy places.
सुतीर्थानि इयं गंगा भाति पुण्या सरस्वती । रेवा च यमुना तापी नदी चर्मण्वती तथा
The holy Ganga shines, and the sacred Sarasvati; also Reva, Yamuna, Tapi, and the river Carmanvati.
सरयू च वरा वेणी पूर्णा पापप्रणाशिनी । कावेरी कपिला चान्या विशल्या विश्वतारिणी
Sarayu, the excellent Veni, Purna, destroyer of sins; Kaveri, Kapila, and others—Vishalya, Vishvatarini.
गोदावरी समाख्याता तुंगभद्रा च गंडकी । पापानां भीतिदा नित्यं नदी भीमरथी स्मृता
Godavari is renowned, as are Tungabhadra and Gandaki; Bhimarathi is always remembered as a river that brings fear to sinners.
देविका कृष्णगंगा च अन्या याः सरितांवराः । एतास्तु पुण्यकालेषु संति तीर्थान्यनेकशः
Devikā, Kṛṣṇagaṅgā, and other eminent rivers—these, at auspicious times, are indeed numerous sacred places.
ग्रामे वा यदि वारण्ये नद्यः सर्वत्र पावनाः । तत्र तत्रैव कर्त्तव्याः स्नानदानादिकाः क्रियाः
Whether in a village or in the forest, rivers are purifying everywhere; there, one should always perform acts such as bathing and giving charity.
यदा न ज्ञायते नाम तस्य तीर्थस्य भो द्विज । तत्रेत्युच्चारणं कार्यं विष्णुतीर्थमिदं महत्
O twice-born, when the name of a sacred place is not known, one should declare upon arrival: 'This is the great Viṣṇu tīrtha.'
तीर्थस्य देवता विष्णुःस र्वत्रापि न संशयः । नारायणेति यन्नाम स्मरेत्तीर्थेषु साधकः
Viṣṇu is the deity of every sacred place, without doubt; the practitioner should remember the name Nārāyaṇa at tīrthas.