चर्मकारो यथा चर्मकुंडस्योपरि निर्घृणे । शोधयेच्च कशाद्यैश्च कुद्रव्यं स्फोटयेद्यथा
Just as a leatherworker, without mercy, cleans a leather vessel and strikes inferior material with whips to make it burst,
तथाहं पापकर्तारं शोधयामि न संशयः । औषधीनां सुयोगैश्च कषायैः कटुकैर्ध्रुवम्
In the same way, I purify the doer of evil—without doubt—using proper combinations of medicines, with bitter decoctions, certainly.
उष्णोदकैश्च संतापैर्वैद्यरूपेण नान्यथा । अन्ये भुंजंति तस्याग्रे भोगानन्यान्मनोगतान्
And with hot water and burning treatments, in the form of a physician, and not otherwise; others enjoy various pleasures before him, those imagined in their minds.
किं करोमि समर्थश्च न दत्तं दानमुत्तमम् । महता रोगरूपेण तमेनं परिवारयेत्
What can I do, though capable, if the highest gift has not been given? Surrounded by great disease, he is enveloped.
नित्यकालस्य यद्दानमात्मानं पापिभिर्यथा । न दत्तं च महीदेव श्रद्धया निजशक्तितः
As, at the proper time, a gift is not given by sinners for themselves, nor is it given, O lord of the earth, with faith and according to one's own ability.
तथायातान्प्रधक्ष्येतानुपायैर्दारुणैः किल । नैमित्तिकं प्रवक्ष्यामि दानकालं तवाग्रतः
Thus, those who have come are burned by harsh means; I will explain to you the occasional time for giving gifts, before you.
महापर्वणि संप्राप्ते तीर्थप्राप्तौ तथैव च । पितुः क्षयाहदिवसे वैशाखादिषु यत्नतः
When a great festival arrives, or at the attainment of a sacred place, and on the day of a father's death, especially in the months like Vaiśākha, with effort,
मासेषु पुण्यकालेषु दानं नैमित्तिकं स्मृतम् । काम्यकालं प्रवक्ष्यामि यद्दानं फलदायकम्
In the months and auspicious times, occasional giving is remembered; I will explain the desired time, when gifts yield fruit.
व्रतादिकं समुद्दिश्य कामनाफलकल्पितम् । यत्कामं कथितं सम्यक्सर्वांगैरेव संगतम्
With vows and the like in mind, established for the fruit of desire, whatever wish is properly spoken, accompanied by all limbs,
तस्य दानप्रभावेण भावनापरिभावितः । तादृक्फलं समश्नाति मानुषस्तत्प्रसादनात्
Through the power of that gift, imbued with contemplation, a person attains such a result by its grace.
आभ्युदयं प्रवक्ष्यामि यच्च यज्ञादिषु स्मृतम् । जातकर्मादिकार्येषु मौञ्ज्याद्युद्वाहकर्मसु
I will explain the prosperity, and what is remembered in sacrifices and the like, in rites like birth ceremonies, thread ceremonies, and marriage rituals.
प्रासादध्वजदेवानां प्रतिष्ठासु प्रयत्नतः । इत्यादिकं महीदेव दानमभ्युदयात्मकम्
At the installations of temples, flags, and gods, with effort—such things, O lord of the earth, are gifts of a prosperous nature.
प्रजावृद्धिकरं भोगयशःस्वर्गसुखप्रदम् । अंत्यं चैव प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणु दानं द्विजोत्तम
They bring increase of progeny, pleasure, fame, heavenly happiness; and now I will explain the final gift—listen, O best of twice-born.
कामस्य संक्षयं ज्ञात्वा जरया परिपीडितः । दद्याद्दानानि यत्नेन कुर्यादाशां न कस्यचित्
Knowing the decline of desire, afflicted by old age, one should give gifts with effort, and should not place hope in anyone.
मृते च मयि मे पुत्रा जायाबांधवसोदराः । कथमेते भविष्यंति मां विना सुहृदो मम
When I am dead, my sons, wife, relatives, and brothers—how will these, my friends, be 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, he gives nothing at all.
आशापाशशतैर्बद्धो भाग्यादेव कुमायया । मृत्युं प्रयाति मूढात्मा रुदंति च ततः सुताः
Bound by hundreds of cords of hope, by ill fortune and ignorance, the deluded soul goes to death, and then the sons weep.
दुःखेन पीडिताः किचिंन्मोहेनाकुलचेतसः । स्वल्पमल्पं च वा दानं कथंचित्कल्पयंति ते
Afflicted by sorrow, somewhat disturbed by confusion of mind, they somehow arrange a small and meager gift.
न तत्रास्मिन्गते काले महादुःखगते सति । विस्मरंति तदा दानं लोभाद्वा न ददत्यपि
When that time arrives, filled with great sorrow, people do not remember charity; out of greed, they do not give at all.
मृतोऽयं च पिता ज्ञात्वा स्नेहपाशो निवर्त्तते । योऽसौ मृतो महीदेव मम पाशैर्नियंत्रितः
When one realizes that the father has died, the bonds of affection are released; that king, my father, who has died, is restrained by these bonds.
तृष्णा क्षुधा समाक्रांतो बहुदुःखैः प्रपीडितः । पच्यते नरके घोरे चिरकालं न संशयः
Overcome by thirst and hunger, afflicted by many sufferings, he is tormented in the dreadful hell for a long time, without doubt.
तस्माद्दानं प्रदातव्यं स्वयमेव न संशयः । कस्य पुत्राश्च पौत्राश्च कस्य भार्या धनं च वा
Therefore, charity must be given by 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 possesses anything? Therefore, one should give: drink, food, betel, water, and gold as well.
वसनं गां च भूमिं च च्छत्रपात्राण्यनेकधा । फलानि भूमिदानानि विविधानि स्वशक्तितः
Clothing, cows, land, umbrellas, vessels of many kinds, fruits, gifts of land, and various things according to one's ability.
दातव्यानि महीदेव नात्र कार्या विचारणा । तीर्थानां लक्षणं विप्र प्रवक्ष्यामि तवाग्रतः
These must be given, O king; there should be no hesitation. I will declare to you, O Brahmin, the characteristics of holy places.
सुतीर्थानि इयं गंगा भाति पुण्या सरस्वती । रेवा च यमुना तापी नदी चर्मण्वती तथा
This Ganga shines as a holy place, as does 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, the full river that destroys sin; 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 remembered as a river that always gives fear to sinners.
देविका कृष्णगंगा च अन्या याः सरितांवराः । एतास्तु पुण्यकालेषु संति तीर्थान्यनेकशः
Devika, Krishna-Ganga, and other supreme rivers; these, during auspicious times, are many holy 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; at each place, acts such as bathing and charity should be performed.