संतुष्टाय विनीताय सर्वस्वसहिताय च । वेदाभ्यास तपो ज्ञानेंद्रियसंयमशालिने 6.32.
To one who is content, humble, and possesses all his wealth, who is devoted to Vedic study, austerity, knowledge, and self-control—
ईदृशाय सुरश्रेष्ठ यद्दत्तं हि तदक्षयम् । आमपात्रे यथा न्यस्तं क्षीरं दधि घृतं मधु
O best of gods, whatever is given to such a person is imperishable, just as milk, curd, ghee, or honey placed in a fresh vessel—
भिनत्ति पात्रं दौर्बल्यान्न च पात्रं विनश्यति । एवं गां च हिरण्यं च वस्त्रमन्नं मही तिलान्
If the vessel breaks from weakness, the vessel is not lost; in the same way, cows, gold, cloth, food, land, and sesame—
अविद्वान्प्रतिगृह्णाति भस्मीभवति काष्ठवत् । यस्तडागं नवं कुर्यात्पुराणं वापि खानयेत्
If an ignorant person receives them, they are reduced to ashes like wood; but one who builds a new tank or digs an old pond—
सर्वं कुलं समुद्धृत्य स्वर्गलोके महीयते । वापीकूपतडागानि उद्यानप्रभवानि च
Having uplifted the entire lineage, one is honored in the heavenly world; ponds, wells, and reservoirs, as well as gardens that arise from them—
पुनर्नीतानि संस्कारं ददते मौक्तिकं फलम्। निदाघकाले पानीय यस्य तिष्ठति वासव
when these are restored and consecrated, they yield a pearl-like fruit; O Indra, for the one whose water remains in the heat of summer—
स दुर्गं विषमं कृच्छ्रं न कदाचिदवाप्नुयात् । एकाहं तु स्थितं तोयं पृथिव्यां देवसत्तम
he never encounters hardship, danger, or difficulty; O best of gods, even if water remains on earth for a single day—
कुलानि तारयेत्तस्य सप्तसप्त परानपि । दीपालोकप्रदानेन वपुष्मान्स भवेन्नरः
it delivers his families—seven and seven, and even others; by giving the gift of a lamp’s light, that man becomes radiant.
दक्षिणायाः प्रदानेन स्मृतिं मेधां च विंदति । कृत्वापि पातकं कर्म यो दद्यादनुसंधिने
By giving the prescribed fee, one attains memory and intelligence; even if one has committed a sinful act, if he gives with proper intent—
ब्राह्मणाय विशेषेण न स पापैर्हि लिप्यते । भूमेर्गावस्तथादासः प्रसह्य प्रहृता यदा
especially to a Brahmin, he is not tainted by sins; but when someone forcibly seizes land or cows—
न निवेदयते यस्तु तमाहुर्ब्रह्मघातकम् । उपस्थिते विवाहे च यज्ञे दाने च वासव
and does not report it, he is called a slayer of Brahman; O Indra, at the time of marriage, sacrifice, or gift—
मोहाच्चरति विघ्नं यः स मृतो जायते कृमिः । धनं फलति दानेन जीवितं जीवरक्षणात्
whoever, out of delusion, causes an obstacle, is reborn as a worm after death; wealth is gained by giving, life by protecting life—
रूपमैश्वर्यमारोग्यमहिंसाफलमश्नुते । फलमूलाशनात्पूजां स्वर्गः सत्येन लभ्यते
beauty, prosperity, and health are enjoyed as the fruit of nonviolence; heaven is attained through truth, worship by eating fruits and roots—
प्रायोपवेशनाद्राज्यं सर्वत्र सुखमश्नुते । सुखाट्यः शक्रदीक्षायां सुगामी च तृणाशनः
by fasting unto death, one enjoys happiness everywhere, and by the vow of Indra, the one who eats grass moves easily—
रूपी त्रिषवणस्नायी वायुं पीत्वा क्रतुं लभेत् । नित्यस्नायी भवेद्दक्षः संध्यावेदजपान्वितः
the one who bathes three times daily gains beauty, and by inhaling air, he attains the sacrifice; one who bathes regularly becomes skilled, endowed with the recitation of the twilight prayers—
अहिंस्रो याति वैराज्यं नाकपृष्ठमनाशकम् । अग्निप्रवेशी नियतं ब्रह्मलोके महीयते
the nonviolent attains the realm of Virāj, the imperishable summit of heaven; the one who enters fire with discipline is honored in the world of Brahman—
रसानां प्रतिसंहारे पशून्पुत्रांश्च विंदति । नाके चिरं स वसति उपवासी च यो भवेत्
when the tastes are restrained, he obtains cattle and sons; and the one who fasts dwells long in heaven—
सततं भूमिशायी यः स लभेदीप्सितां गतिम् । वीरासनं वीरशयं वीरस्थानमुपासतः
whoever always lies upon the ground attains the desired state; by practicing the heroic posture, heroic lying, and heroic station—
अक्षयास्तस्यलोकाः स्युः सर्वकामगमास्तथा । उपवासं च दीक्षां च अभिषेकं च वासव
his worlds become inexhaustible, and all desires are fulfilled; O Indra, by undertaking fasting, initiation, and consecration—
कृत्वा द्वादशवर्षाणि वीरस्थानाद्विशिष्यते । पावनं चरते धर्मं स्वर्गलोके महीयते
for twelve years, he surpasses the heroic station; practicing pure dharma, he is honored in the heavenly world—
बृहस्पतिमतं पुण्यं ये पठंति द्विजोत्तमाः । तेषां चत्वारि वर्द्धंते आयुर्विद्यायशोबलम्
The twice-born who recite the meritorious teaching of Bṛhaspati— for them, four things increase: lifespan, knowledge, fame, and strength.
नारद उवाच- इतींद्राय बृहस्पतिप्रणीतं धर्मशास्त्रकम् । मह्यं भक्ताय संप्रोक्तं महेशेनाखिलं नृप
Nārada said: Thus, O king, this treatise on dharma composed by Bṛhaspati for Indra was fully declared to me, a devotee, by Maheśa.
नारद उवाच- शनिपीडा कथं याति तन्मे वद सुरोत्तम । त्वन्मुखाच्छ्रूयते यद्वै तेन जंतुः प्रमुच्यते
Nārada said: O best of the gods, tell me how the affliction caused by Śani is removed. It is heard from your mouth that by this, a being is released.
महादेव उवाच- देवर्षे शृणु वृत्तांतं तेन मुच्येत बंधनात् । ग्रहाणां ग्रहराजोऽयं सौरिः सर्वमहेश्वरः
Mahādeva said: O sage among the gods, listen to this account; by it, one is freed from bondage. Among the planets, this Sauri is the king of planets and the lord of all great lords.
अयं तु देवो विख्यातः कालरूपी महाग्रहः । जटिलो वज्ररोमा च दानवानां भयंकरः
This god is renowned as the embodiment of Time, a great planet, matted-haired, with hair like thunderbolts, and terrifying to the Dānavas.
तस्याख्यानं च लोकेऽस्मिन्प्रथितं नास्ति वै प्रभो । मया गुप्तं विशेषेण नोक्तं हि कस्यचित्कदा
His story is not widely known in this world, O lord; I have kept it especially secret and have never told it to anyone.
रघुवंशेऽति विख्यातो राजा दशरथः पुरा । चक्रवर्ती महावीरः सप्तद्वीपाधिपोऽभवत्
In the Raghu dynasty, there was once a king named Daśaratha, greatly renowned, a universal emperor, a mighty hero, and lord of the seven continents.
कृत्तिकांते शनिं ज्ञात्वा दैवज्ञैर्ज्ञापितो हि सः । रोहिणीं भेदयित्वा च शनिर्यास्यति सांप्रतम्
Having learned from astrologers that Śani was at the end of Kṛttikā, he was informed that Śani would now proceed, breaking through Rohiṇī.
शाकटं भेदमत्युग्रं सुरासुरभयंकरम् । द्वादशाब्दं तु दुर्भिक्षं भविष्यति सुदारुणम्
The breaking of the Śākaṭa formation would be extremely fierce, terrifying to gods and demons; for twelve years, a most dreadful famine would occur.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा ततो वाक्यं मंत्रिभिः सह पार्थिवः । मंत्रयामास किमिदं भयंकरमुपस्थितम्
Hearing this, the king, together with his ministers, deliberated: 'What is this terrible danger that has arisen?'