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.
दानं चतुर्विधं दानमुत्सर्गः कल्पितं तथा २.
Giving is of four kinds, and so too is the act of relinquishment that is prescribed.
वापीकूपतडागानां वृक्षविद्यासुरौकसाम् २.
Of wells, ponds, and reservoirs, of trees, knowledge, and abodes for the gods—
उपजीवन्निमान्यश्च पुण्यं कोऽपि चरेन्नरः २.
Whoever lives by these and honors them, surely that person performs a meritorious act.
तदेषामेव सर्वेषां विप्रसंस्थापनं परम् २.
Thus, the establishment of Brāhmaṇas is the highest of all these.
देवतायतनं यावद्यावच्च ब्राह्मणगृहम् २.
From a temple of the gods up to the house of a Brāhmaṇa—
एतत्स्वल्पं हि वाणिज्यं पुनर्बहुफलप्रदम् २.
This is indeed a small transaction, yet it yields abundant fruit.
तस्मादिदं त्वहमपिब्रवीमि सुरसत्तमाः २.
Therefore, O best of gods, I now declare this to you.
इति सारस्वतप्रोक्तां तथा पद्मभुवेरिताम् २.
Thus was spoken by Sarasvatī and likewise by the lotus-born one.
ततः सभाविसर्गांते सुरम्ये मेरुमूर्धनि २.
Then, at the end of the assembly and the offering, on the beautiful summit of Meru—
सत्यमाह विरंचिस्तु स किमर्थं तु जीवति २.
Brahmā spoke the truth: 'For what purpose, then, does he live?'
तदहं दानपुण्यं हि करिष्यामि कथं स्फुटम् २.
Therefore, how shall I clearly perform the merit of giving?
अनर्हते यद्ददाति न ददाति तथार्हते २.
That which is given to one unworthy, and not given to one who is worthy—
देशेकाले च पात्रे च शुद्धेन मनसा तथा २.
In the right place and time, to a worthy recipient, and with a pure mind—
तमोवृतस्तु यो दद्यात्क्रोधात्तथैव च २.
But one who gives while enveloped in darkness, or out of anger—
बालत्वेऽपि च सोऽश्राति यद्दत्तं दम्भकारणात् २.
Even in youth, he does not rejoice if what is given is for the sake of hypocrisy.
वृद्धत्वे हि समश्राति नरो वै नात्र भविष्यति शुभार्जितं प्रयुञ्जीत श्रद्धया शाठ्यवर्जितः॥ २.
Indeed, in old age he does not rejoice; a man will not be so. One should employ what is righteously acquired, with faith, devoid of deceit.
तदेतन्निर्धनत्वाच्च कथं नाम भविष्यति २.
So, because of this poverty, how indeed will this come to be?
नाधनस्यास्त्ययं लोको न परश्च कथंचन २.
For the poor, neither this world nor the next exists in any way.
दारिद्र्यं पातकं लोके कस्तच्छंसितुमर्हति २.
Poverty is a sin in the world—who is fit to endure it?
यः कृशाश्वः कृशधनः कृशभृत्यः कृशातिथिः २.
He who has lean horses, little wealth, few servants, and scant guests—