अहन्यहनि याचंतमहं मन्ये गुरुं यथा २.
Day after day, I consider the one who begs as a teacher.
दीयमानं हि नापैति भूय एवाभिवर्धते २.
What is given does not depart; it grows ever greater.
एकजन्मसुखस्यार्थे सहस्राणि विलापयेत् २.
For the sake of happiness in one birth, one may spend thousands.
मूर्खो हि न ददात्यर्थानिह दारिद्र्यशंकया २.
A fool does not give wealth here, fearing poverty.
किं धनेन करिष्यंति देहिनो भंगुराश्रयाः २.
What will embodied beings do with wealth, whose foundation is fragile?
अक्षरद्वयमभ्यस्तं नास्तिनास्तीति यत्पुरा २.
The two syllables 'na asti'—'there is not'—were practiced long ago.
बोधयंति च यावंतो देहीति कृपणं जनाः २.
As many as say 'I am embodied,' they awaken the miserable.
दातुरेवोपकाराय वदत्यर्थीति देहि मे २.
For the benefit of the giver alone, the supplicant says, 'Give to me for the sake of wealth.'
दरिद्रा व्याधिता मूर्खाः परप्रेष्यकराः सदा २.
The poor, the sick, the foolish, always act as servants of others.
धनवंतमदातारं दरिद्रं वाऽतपस्विनम् २.
Whether wealthy and ungiving, or poor and ascetic.
शतेषु जायते शूरः सहस्रेषु च पंडितः २.
Among a hundred, a hero is born; among a thousand, a learned man.
गोभिर्विप्रैश्च वेदैश्च सतीभिः सत्यवादिभिः २.
With cows, Brahmins, Vedas, virtuous women, and speakers of truth.
शिबिरौशीनरोङ्गानि सुतं च प्रियमौरसम् २.
Shibi, Ushinara, Anga, and their beloved sons born of their own lineage.
प्रतर्द्दनः काशिपति प्रदाय नयने स्वके २.
Pratardana, king of Kashi, gave his own eyes.
निमी राष्ट्रं च वैदेहो जामदग्न्यो वसुंधराम् २.
Nimi, the Vaideha, gave his kingdom; Jamadagni gave the earth.
अवर्षति च पर्जन्ये सर्वभूतनिवासकृत् २.
When the rain did not fall, the one who provided shelter for all beings.
ब्रह्मदत्तश्च पांचाल्यो राजा बुद्धिमतां वरः २.
Brahmadatta, the Panchala king, foremost among the wise.
सहस्रजिच्च राजर्षिः प्राणानिष्टान्महायशाः २.
Sahasrajit, the royal sage, of great fame, gave his cherished life.
एते चान्ये च बहवः स्थाणोर्दानेन भक्तितः २.
These and many others, through gifts and devotion to Sthanu (Shiva).
एषां प्रतिष्ठिता कीर्तिर्यावत्स्थास्यति मेदिनी २.
Their fame will endure as long as the earth remains.
सोऽपि मोह परित्यज्य तथा कात्यायनोऽभवत्॥ २.
He too, abandoning delusion, became like Katyayana.
एवं सुश्रवसा प्रोक्तां कथामाकर्ण्य पद्मभूः २.
Hearing this story spoken by Sushravas, Padmabhu listened.
साधु ते व्याहृतं वत्स एवमेतन्न चान्यथा २.
Well spoken, child; it is so, not otherwise.
दानं यज्ञानां वरूथं दक्षिणा लोके दातारँसर्वभूतान्युपजीवंति दानेनारातीरँपानुदंत दानेन द्विषंतो मित्रा भवंति दाने सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितं तस्माद्दानं परमं वदंतीति॥ २.
Charity is the foremost shield of sacrifices; the giver is honored in the world. All beings subsist by charity; by charity, enemies are driven away; by charity, foes become friends; in charity, everything is established. Therefore, they say charity is supreme.
संसारसागरे घोरे धर्माधर्मोर्मिसंकुले २.
In the dreadful ocean of worldly existence, filled with waves of righteousness and unrighteousness.
इति संचिंत्य च मया पुष्करे स्थापिता द्विजाः २.
Thinking thus, I established the Brahmins at Pushkara.
स्थापिताः श्रीहरिभ्यां तु श्रीगौर्या वेदवित्तमाः २.
They were established by Shri Hari and Shri Gauri, those most learned in the Vedas.
श्रीमाले च तथा लक्ष्म्या ह्येवमादिसुरोत्तमैः २.
Likewise, in Shri Mala, by Lakshmi and other foremost gods.
न हि दानफले कांक्षा काचिन्नऽस्ति सुरोत्तमाः २.
Indeed, there is no desire whatsoever for the fruit of giving, O best of gods.
ब्राह्मणाश्च कृतस्थाना नानाधर्मोपदेशनैः २.
And the Brāhmaṇas, established in their proper place, instruct in various forms of dharma.