पतनात्त्रायत इति पात्रं शास्त्रे प्रयुज्यते दातुश्च पातकात्त्राणात्पात्रमित्यभिधीयते
Because it protects from falling, the term 'pātra' (recipient) is used in the scriptures; and because it protects the giver from sin, it is called 'pātra.'
गायकं त्रायते पाताद्गायत्रीत्युच्यते हि सा यथा ऽर्थहिनो लोके ऽस्मिन्परस्यार्थं न यच्छति
Because it protects the chanter from falling, it is indeed called Gāyatrī; just as one who lacks wealth in this world does not give to another's cause.
अर्थवानिह यो लोके परस्यार्थं प्रयच्छति स्वयं शुद्धो हि पूतात्मा नरान्सत्रातुमर्हति
He who, being pure himself, gives wealth in this world for the sake of another, is truly a purified soul and worthy to protect men through sacrifice.
गायत्रीजपशुद्धो हि शुद्धब्राह्मण उच्यते तस्माद्दाने जपे होमे पूजायां सर्वकर्मणि
One who is purified by reciting the Gāyatrī is called a pure brāhmaṇa; therefore, in giving, reciting, offering, worship, and all actions—
दानं कर्तुं तथा त्रातुं पात्रं तु ब्राह्मणोर्हति अन्नस्य क्षुधितं पात्रं नारीनरमयात्मकम्
A brāhmaṇa is fit to give gifts and to protect, and the proper recipient of food is one who is hungry, whether woman or man.
ब्राह्मणं श्रेष्ठमाहूय यत्काले सुसमाहितम् तदर्थं शब्दमर्थं वा सद्बोधकमभीष्टदम्
Having invited an excellent brāhmaṇa, who is well-composed at the right time, one should give him words or meaning that are instructive and desired.
इच्छावतः प्रदानं च संपूर्णफलदं विदुः यत्प्रश्नानंतरं दत्तं तदर्थफलदं विदुः
They know that giving with desire yields complete fruit; and that which is given in response to a question yields fruit according to its purpose.
यत्सेवकाय दत्तं स्यात्तत्पादफलदं विदुः जातिमात्रस्य विप्रस्य दीनवृत्तेर्द्विजर्षभाः
That which is given to one who serves yields the fruit of reaching his feet; but giving to a brāhmaṇa merely by birth, if he is destitute, is praised by the best of twice-born.
दत्तमर्थं हि भोगाय भूर्लोकेदशवार्षिकम् वेदयुक्तस्य विप्रस्य स्वर्गे हि दशवार्षिकम्
Wealth given for enjoyment in this world yields ten years of benefit; to a brāhmaṇa versed in the Veda, it yields ten years in heaven.
गायत्रीजपयुक्तस्य सत्ये हि दशवार्षिकम् विष्णुभक्तस्य विप्रस्य दत्तं वैकुंठदं विदुः
To one engaged in reciting the Gāyatrī, it yields ten years in the realm of truth; to a brāhmaṇa devoted to Viṣṇu, the gift is known to grant Vaikuṇṭha.
शिवभक्तस्य विप्रस्य दत्तं कैलासदं विदुः तत्तल्लोकोपभोगार्थं सर्वेषां दानमिष्यते
To a brāhmaṇa devoted to Śiva, the gift is known to grant Kailāsa; thus, giving is desired by all for the enjoyment of their respective worlds.
दशांगमन्नं विप्रस्य भानुवारे ददन्नरः परजन्मनि चारोग्यं दशवर्षं समश्नुते
A man who gives tenfold food to a brāhmaṇa on Sunday enjoys health for ten years in his next life.
बहुमानमथाह्वानमभ्यंगं पादसेवनम् वासो गंधाद्यर्चनं च घृतापूपरसोत्तरम्
Great respect, invitation, anointing, service to the feet, clothing, worship with fragrance and so on, and offerings of ghee, cakes, and sweets—
षड्रसं व्यंजनं चैव तांबूलं दक्षिणोत्तरम् नमश्चानुगमश्चैव स्वन्नदानं दशांगकम्
Six-flavored dishes, vegetables, betel, gifts both small and great, salutation, escort, and the tenfold gift of cooked food—
दशांगमन्नं विप्रेभ्यो दशभ्यो वै ददन्नरः अर्कवारे तथा ऽ ऽरोग्यं शतवर्षं समश्नुते
A man who gives tenfold food to ten brāhmaṇas on Sunday enjoys health for a hundred years.
सोमवारादिवारेषु तत्तद्वारगुणं फलम् अन्नदानस्य विज्ञेयं भूर्लोके परजन्मनि
On Monday and other days, the fruit of giving food should be understood according to the virtue of each day, both in this world and the next.
सप्तस्वपि च वारेषु दशभ्यश्च दशांगकम् अन्नं दत्त्वा शतं वर्षमारोग्यादिकमश्नुते
By giving tenfold food to ten brāhmaṇas on each of the seven days, one enjoys health and other benefits for a hundred years.
एवं शतेभ्यो विप्रेभ्यो भानुवारे ददन्नरः सहस्रवर्षमारोग्यं शर्वलोके समश्नुते
In this way, one who gives to a hundred brāhmaṇas on Sunday enjoys a thousand years of health in the world of Śarva.
सहस्रेभ्यस्तथा दत्त्वा ऽयुतवर्षं समश्नुते एवं सोमादिवारेषु विज्ञेयं हि विपश्चिता
Likewise, by giving to a thousand, one enjoys ten thousand years; thus, on Monday and other days, the wise should understand.
भानुवारे सहस्राणां गायत्रीपूतचेतसाम् अन्नं दत्त्वा सत्यलोके ह्यारोग्यादि समश्नुते
By giving food to thousands of those whose minds are purified by Gāyatrī on Sunday, one enjoys health and other benefits in the world of truth.
अयुतानां तथा दत्त्वा विष्णुलोके समश्नुते अन्नं दत्त्वा तु लक्षाणां रुद्रलोके समश्नुते
By giving food to ten thousand, one attains the world of Vishnu; but by giving food to a hundred thousand, one attains the world of Rudra.
बालानां ब्रह्मबुद्ध्या हि देयं विद्यार्थिभिर्नरैः यूनां च विष्णुबुद्ध्या हि पुत्रकामार्थिभिर्नरैः
Food should be given to children by those seeking knowledge, with the thought of Brahma; and to youths by those desiring sons, with the thought of Vishnu.
वृद्धानां रुद्रबुद्ध्या हि देयं ज्ञानार्थिभिर्नरैः बालस्त्रीभारतीबुद्ध्या बुद्धिकामैर्नरोत्तमैः
To elders, food should be given by those seeking wisdom, with the thought of Rudra; to boys and women, by those desiring intelligence, with the thought of Sarasvati.
लक्ष्मीबुद्ध्या युवस्त्रीषु भोगकामैर्नरोत्तमैः वृद्धासु पार्वतीबुद्ध्या देयमात्मार्थिभिर्जनैः
To young women, food should be given by those desiring enjoyment, with the thought of Lakshmi; to elderly women, by those seeking self-realization, with the thought of Parvati.
शिलवृत्त्योञ्छवृत्त्या च गुरुदक्षिणयार्जितम् शुद्धद्रव्यमिति प्राहुस्तत्पूर्णफलदं विदुः
Wealth obtained through honest means, such as ascetic practice, alms, or as a teacher’s fee, is called pure; such wealth is known to yield complete results.
शुक्लप्रतिग्रहाद्दत्तं मध्यमं द्रव्यमुच्यते कृषिवाणिज्यकोपेतमधमं द्रव्यमुच्यते
Wealth received as a pure gift is called middling; wealth obtained through agriculture or trade is called inferior.
क्षत्रियाणां विशां चैव शौर्यवाणिज्यकार्जितम् उत्तमं द्रव्यमित्याहुः शूद्राणां भृतकार्जितम्
For Kshatriyas and Vaishyas, wealth earned through valor or trade is called superior; for Shudras, wealth earned through service is so regarded.
स्त्रीणां धर्मार्थिनां द्रव्यं पैतृकं भर्तृकं तथा गवादीनां द्वादशीनां चैत्रादिषु यथाक्रमम्
For women devoted to righteousness, wealth inherited from father or husband, and for cows and other gifts on the twelfth day and in the spring months, each in due order.
संभूय वा पुण्यकाले दद्यादिष्टसमृद्धये गोभूतिलहिरण्याज्यवासोधान्यगुडानि च
Or, together at an auspicious time, one should give for the fulfillment of wishes: cows, land, gold, clarified butter, garments, grains, and jaggery.
रौप्यं लवणकूष्मांडे कन्याद्वादशकं तथा गोदानाद्दत्तगव्येन गोमयेनोपकारिणा
Silver, salt, gourds, twelve maidens, and cows; by giving a cow, one should also give its milk and dung for benefit.