विभातायां तु शर्वर्यामुदिते विमले रवौ । निमंत्र्य ब्राह्मणान्भक्त्या श्राद्धं कुर्याच्च वैष्णवम्
When the pure sun rises at dawn, one should invite Brahmins with devotion and perform a Vaishnava śrāddha ceremony.
भोजयित्वा यथाकामं पायसेन घृतेन च । तांबूलपुष्पगंधादि दक्षिणाभिः समन्वितम्
After feeding them as they desire with rice pudding and ghee, along with betel, flowers, fragrances, and gifts of money.
उपवीतानि वासांसि दत्वा मालां च चंदनम् । दांपत्यत्रितयं भोज्यं वस्त्रभूषण कुंकुमैः
Giving sacred threads and garments, garlands and sandalwood, one should honor three couples with food, clothing, ornaments, and saffron.
वंशपात्राणि शक्त्या च विरूढैः परिपूरयेत् । नालिकेरैश्च पक्वान्नैर्वस्त्रैश्च विविधैः फलैः
One should fill bamboo containers, as able, with sprouted grains, coconuts, cooked food, garments, and various fruits.
सपत्नीकं गुरुं तत्र वस्त्राणि परिधापयेत् । विभूषणानि दिव्यानि गंधमाल्यैः प्रपूजयेत्
There, one should clothe the teacher and his wife in garments, and worship them with divine ornaments, fragrances, and garlands.
सर्वोपस्करसंयुक्तां गां दद्याच्च पयस्विनीम् । सदक्षिणां सवस्त्रां च तन्मे निगदतः शृणु
One should give a milking cow, complete with all accessories, with a proper gift and clothing; listen as I declare this.
सर्वतीर्थेषु यत्पुण्यं स्नातानां जायते नृणाम् । तत्फलं स लभेत्सर्वं देवदेवप्रसादतः
Whatever merit arises for people who bathe at all holy places, all that result is obtained by the grace of the Lord of gods.
भुक्त्वा च विपुलान्भोगान्सर्वकामान्मनोरमान् । वैष्णवं पदमाप्नोति अंते विष्णोः प्रसादतः
After enjoying abundant and delightful pleasures and all desired objects, one attains the Vaishnava abode at the end, by Vishnu's grace.
नारद उवाच- गुणाधिकेभ्यो विप्रेभ्यो दातुकामोऽपि मानवः । कानिकानि च लोकेऽस्मिन्दद्यात्सर्वं तथा वद
Narada said: Even if a man wishes to give to Brahmins who are superior in virtue, what and how much should he give in this world? Tell me all this.
महादेव उवाच- लोके तत्वं हि संज्ञाय शृणु देवर्षिसत्तम । अन्नमेवं प्रशंसंति सर्वमन्ने प्रतिष्ठितम्
Mahadeva said: Hear, O best of sages, having understood the truth of the world: food alone is praised, for everything is established in food.
तस्मादन्नं विशेषेण दातुमिच्छंति मानवाः । अन्नेन सदृशं दानं न भूतं न भविष्यति
Therefore, people especially desire to give food; there has never been, nor will there be, a gift equal to food.
अन्नेन धार्यते विश्वं जगत्स्थावरजंगमम् । अन्नमूर्जस्करं लोके प्राणाह्यन्ने प्रतिष्ठिताः
By food the universe is sustained, both moving and unmoving beings; food gives strength in the world, and life is established in food.
दातव्यं भक्ष्यमेवान्नं ब्राह्मणाय महात्मने । कुटुंबं पीडयित्वापि आत्मनो भूतिमिच्छता
One should give edible food to a great-souled Brahmin, even by causing hardship to one's own family, if one desires one's own welfare.
नारदासौ विदांश्रेष्ठो यो दद्यादन्नमर्थिने । ब्राह्मणायार्तरूपाय पारलौकिकमात्मनः
O Narada, best of the wise, whoever gives food to a Brahmin in need, for the sake of his own spiritual good—
आत्मीयभूतिमन्विच्छेत्काले द्विजमुपस्थितम् । श्रांतमध्वनि वर्त्तंतं गृहस्थं गृहमागतम्
One should seek out a twice-born guest who arrives at the proper time, weary from travel, a householder who has come to one's home.
अन्नदः प्राप्नुते विद्वान्सुशीलो वीतमत्सरः । क्रोधमुत्पतितं हित्वा दिवि चेह च यत्सुखम्
The wise, virtuous, and envy-free giver of food attains happiness both here and in heaven, having abandoned anger that has arisen.
नाभिनिंदेच्च अतिथिं न द्रुह्याच्च कथंचन । ब्रह्मविदेऽर्पयेदन्नं तच्च दानं विशिष्यते
One should never insult or harm a guest in any way; food offered to a knower of Brahman is considered the highest form of giving.
श्रांतायादृष्टपूर्वाय अन्नमध्वनि वर्तिने । यो दद्याच्च परिक्लिष्टं सर्वधर्ममवाप्नुयात्
Whoever gives food to a weary traveler, previously unseen, who is exhausted on the road, attains all virtues.
पितृदेवांस्तथा विप्रातिथींश्च महामुने । यो नरः प्रीणयेतान्नैस्तस्य पुण्यमनंतकम्
O great sage, the person who satisfies the ancestors, gods, Brahmins, and guests with food gains endless merit.
कृत्वापि सुमहत्पापं यो दद्यादन्नमर्थिने । ब्राह्मणाय विशेषेण स तु पापैः प्रमुच्यते
Even one who has committed great sin is freed from those sins by giving food to a supplicant, especially to a Brahmin.
ब्राह्मणेष्वक्षयं दानमन्नं शूद्रे महत्फलम् । अन्नदानं च शूद्रे च ब्राह्मणे चावशिष्यते
Giving food to Brahmins yields inexhaustible merit; to a Shudra, it brings great fruit; the gift of food benefits both Shudra and Brahmin alike.
न पृच्छेद्गोत्रचरणं न च स्वाध्यायमेव च । भिक्षुको ब्राह्मणो ह्यत्र दद्यादन्नं प्रयाति च
One should not ask a begging Brahmin his lineage, school, or study; one should give him food, and he will depart.
अन्नदस्य शुभा वृक्षाः सर्वकामफलान्विताः । संभवंतीह लोके च हर्षयुक्तास्त्रिविष्टपे
A giver of food is surrounded by auspicious trees bearing all desired fruits, both in this world and joyfully in heaven.
अन्नदानेन ये लोकास्तान्शृणुष्वमहामुने । विमानानि प्रकाशंते दिवि तेषां महात्मनाम्
Hear, O great sage, of the worlds attained by food-givers: their shining palaces appear in heaven for those great souls.
नानासंस्थानरूपाणि नानाकामान्वितानि च । सर्वकामफलाश्चापि वृक्षा भुवनसंस्थिताः
There are trees of various forms and places, fulfilling all desires, and all-desire-yielding trees established throughout the worlds.
हेमवाप्यः शुभाः सर्वा दीर्घिकाश्चैव सर्वशः । घोषवंति च यानानि मुक्तान्यथ सहस्रशः
All golden reservoirs and ponds are found there, and countless vehicles resound, adorned with pearls.
भक्ष्यभोज्यमयाः शैला वासांस्याभरणानि च । क्षीरं स्रवंत्यः सरितस्तथैवाज्यस्य पर्वताः
There are mountains made of all kinds of food and delicacies, garments and ornaments, rivers flowing with milk, and mountains of ghee.
प्रासादाः शुभ्रवर्णाभाः शय्याश्च कनकोज्वलाः । तदन्नं दातुमिच्छंति तस्मादन्नप्रदो भवेत्
There are mansions shining white, beds gleaming with gold; those who wish to give such food should become givers of food.
एते लोकाः पुण्यकृतामन्नदानं महत्फलम् । तस्मादन्नं विशेषेण दातव्यं मानवैर्भुवि
These worlds are attained by the virtuous; the gift of food bears great fruit. Therefore, humans should especially give food on earth.
इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्सहस्रसंहितायां उत्तरखण्डे उमापतिनारदसंवादे अन्नदानप्रशंसानाम षड्विंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the twenty-sixth chapter, 'The Praise of Food Donation,' in the dialogue between Umāpati and Nārada, in the Uttarakhaṇḍa of the glorious Padma Mahāpurāṇa, comprising fifty-five thousand verses.