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.
हेमंते शिशिरे चैव सलिलं यस्य तिष्ठति । गोसहस्रफलं तस्य लभते नात्र संशयः
In winter and in the cold season, whose water remains, he attains the fruit of a thousand cows—there is no doubt about this.
वसंतेऽपि तथा ग्रीष्मे सलिलं तिष्ठते यदि । अतिरात्राश्वमेधाभ्यां फलमाहुर्मनीषिणः
Even in spring and summer, if water remains, the wise declare the fruit to be equal to Atiratra and Ashvamedha sacrifices.
अथैतेषां तु वृक्षाणां रोपणे च गुणाञ्छृणु । अतीतानागतौ चोभौ पितृवंशौ महाऋषे
Now hear the virtues of planting these trees, O great sage, which benefit both past and future ancestral lineages.
तारयेद्वृक्षरोपी च तस्माद्वृक्षांस्तु रोपयेत् । पुत्रपौत्रा भवंत्येते पादपा नात्र संशयः
The planter of trees uplifts both lineages; therefore, one should plant trees. These trees become sons and grandsons—there is no doubt about this.
परलोकं गतः सोऽपि लोकानाप्नोति चाक्षयान् । पुष्पैः सुरगणान्सर्वान्पत्रैश्चापि तथा पितॄन्
Even after departing to the next world, he attains imperishable realms, and by their flowers he pleases all the divine hosts, and by their leaves, the ancestors as well.
छायया चातिथीन्सर्वान्पूजयंति महीरुहाः । किन्नरोरगरक्षांसि देवगंधर्वमानवाः
By their shade, all guests are honored by the trees—Kinnaras, Uragas, Rakshasas, gods, Gandharvas, and humans.
तथा ऋषिगणाश्चैव संश्रयंति महीरुहान् । पुष्पिताः फलवंतश्च तर्पयंतीह मानवान्
Likewise, groups of sages take refuge in the trees; those that are flowering and bearing fruit satisfy people here.
इहलोके परे चैव पुत्रास्ते धर्मतः स्मृताः । तडागवृक्षरोपाश्च इष्टयज्ञाश्च ये द्विजाः
In this world and the next, these are considered sons by righteousness: those who plant ponds and trees, and the twice-born who perform desired sacrifices.
एते स्वर्गान्नहीयंते ये चान्ये सत्यवादिनः । सत्यमेव परं ब्रह्म सत्यमेव परं तपः
These do not fall from heaven, nor do others who speak truth; truth alone is the supreme Brahman, truth alone is the highest austerity.
सत्यमेव परो यज्ञः सत्यमेव परं श्रुतम् । सत्यं देवेषु जागर्ति सत्यं च परमं पदम्
Truth alone is the highest sacrifice, truth alone is the highest scripture; truth is awake among the gods, and truth is the supreme state.
तपो यज्ञाश्च पुण्यं च तथा देवर्षिपूजनम् । आद्यो विधिश्च विद्या च सर्वं सत्ये प्रतिष्ठितम्
Austerity, sacrifices, virtue, and the worship of divine sages, the original ordinance and knowledge—all are established upon truth.
सत्यं यज्ञस्तथा दानं मंत्रा देवी सरस्वती । व्रतचर्या तथा सत्यमोङ्कारः सत्यमेव च
Truth is sacrifice, charity, mantra, the goddess Sarasvati, observance of vows, and the syllable Om; truth alone is all these.
सत्येन वायुरभ्येति सत्येन तपते रविः । सत्येन चाग्निर्दहति स्वर्गः सत्येन तिष्ठति
By truth the wind moves, by truth the sun shines, by truth fire burns, and heaven stands by truth.
पूजनं सर्वदेवानां सर्वतीर्थावगाहनम् । सत्यं च वदते लोके सर्वमाप्नोत्यसंशयः
Worship of all the gods and bathing in all sacred waters—if one speaks truth in the world, one attains everything without doubt.
अश्वमेधसहस्रं च सत्यं च तुलया धृतम् । सर्वेषां सर्वयज्ञानां सत्यमेव विशिष्यते
A thousand horse sacrifices and truth placed on the scale—among all sacrifices, truth alone surpasses them.
सत्येन देवाः प्रीयंते पितरो ऋषयस्तथा । सत्यमाहुः परं धर्मं सत्यमाहुः परं पदम्
By truth the gods, ancestors, and sages are pleased; they declare truth to be the highest dharma and the supreme state.
सत्यमाहुः परं ब्रह्म तस्मात्सत्यं वदामि ते । मुनयः सत्यनिरताः तपस्तप्त्वा सुदुष्करम्
They declare truth to be the supreme Brahman; therefore I tell you truth. The sages, devoted to truth, having performed difficult austerities—
सत्यधर्मरताः सिद्धास्ततः स्वर्गमितो गताः । अप्सरोगणसंघुष्टैर्विमानैः परितो वृताः
Perfected beings, devoted to truth and righteousness, have gone to heaven from here, surrounded by celestial nymphs and aerial chariots.
वक्तव्यं च सदा सत्यं न सत्याद्विद्यते परम् । अगाधे विपुले सिद्धे सत्तीर्थे च शुचौ हृदि
Truth should always be spoken; nothing is higher than truth. In the deep, vast, accomplished, and pure heart, in the holy place—
स्नातव्यं मनसा युक्तैः स्नानं तत्परमं स्मृतम् । आत्मार्थे वा परार्थे वा पुत्रार्थे वापि मानवाः । अनृतं ये न भाषंते ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
One should bathe with a mind united; that bath is considered supreme. Whether for oneself, for another, or for one's son, those who do not speak falsehood are destined for heaven.