Padma Purana

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.

महादेव उवाच- पानीयदानं परमं दानानामुत्तमं सदा । तस्माद्वापीश्च कूपांश्च तडागानि च कारयेत्

Mahādeva said: The gift of water is always the highest and best of gifts; therefore, one should construct wells, ponds, and reservoirs.

अर्द्धं पापं संहरंति पुरुषस्य विकर्मणः । कूपाः प्रवृत्तपानीयाः सुप्रवृत्तस्य नित्यशः

Wells with flowing water, constantly maintained, remove half the sin of a person who has acted wrongly.

स च तारयते वंशं यस्य खात जलाशये । गावः पिबंति विप्राश्च साधवश्च नराः सदा

He uplifts his lineage, in whose excavated reservoir cows, Brahmins, and virtuous men always drink.

निदाघकाले पानीयं यस्य तिष्ठति नारद । दुर्गे विषमकृच्छ्रे च न कदाचिदवाप्यते

In the season of intense heat, O Narada, whose water remains, and in difficult, inaccessible places, it is never lacking.

तडागानां च वक्ष्यामि कृतानां ये गुणाः स्मृताः । त्रिषु लोकेषु सर्वत्र पूजितो यस्तडागवान्

I will declare the virtues remembered of constructed ponds; in all three worlds, the possessor of a pond is honored everywhere.

अथवा मित्रसदनं मित्रमैत्रीविवर्द्धनम् । कीर्तिसंजननं श्रेष्ठं तडागस्योपलक्षयेत्

Or else, one should regard the pond as a house of friendship, a promoter of friendship, and the best source of fame.

धर्म्यस्यार्थस्य कामस्य फलमाहुर्मनीषिणः । तडागं सुकृतं देशे क्षेत्रमध्ये महाश्रयम्

The wise say that the fruit of righteousness, wealth, and desire is a well-made pond in a land, a great refuge in the midst of a field.

चतुर्विधानां भूतानां तडागस्योपलक्षयेत् । तडागानि च सर्वाणि दिशंति श्रेयमुत्तमम्

One should recognize the pond as beneficial to four kinds of beings; all ponds bestow the highest welfare.

देवामनुष्यागंधर्वाः पितरो नाग राक्षसाः । स्थावराणि च भूतानि संश्रयंति जलाशयम्

Gods, humans, Gandharvas, ancestors, Nagas, Rakshasas, and immobile beings all take refuge in the reservoir.

वर्षाऋतौ तडागे तु सलिलं यत्र तिष्ठति । अग्निहोत्रफलं तस्य जायते नात्र संशयः

When water remains in the pond during the rainy season, the fruit of Agnihotra arises for its owner—there is no doubt about this.