एका गौस्तु प्रदातव्या पापक्षयकरी तदा
At that time, one cow should be given; it destroys sin.
प्रेतान्ने चोदरस्थे तु कालधर्ममुपागतः
If food for the departed is placed in the belly of one who has met with death,
प्राप्नोति राक्षसत्वं वै ततो मुच्येत किल्बिषात्
He attains the state of a rakshasa and is thus freed from sin.
गोहस्त्यश्वधनादीनि सागरान्तानि माधवि
O Mādhavi, gifts of cows, elephants, horses, and wealth, extending to the ocean,
प्रायश्चित्तं चरेद्यस्तु स तारयति निश्चितम् । द्विजो ज्ञानेन सम्पन्नो वेदाभ्यासरतः सदा
He who performs expiation, who is certainly a twice-born endowed with knowledge and always engaged in Vedic study, delivers others.
स तारयति चात्मानं दातारं नैव संशयः
He certainly delivers himself and the donor; there is no doubt.
दैवे च जन्मनक्षत्रे श्राद्धकाले च पर्वसु
At the time of divine rites, at birth, under the birth-star, during śrāddha, and on festival days,
वेदविद्याव्रतस्नातं बहुधर्मनिरन्तरम् 189.
One who is learned in the Vedas, who has bathed for vows, and who is constantly devoted to many duties,
क्षमायुक्तं च शास्त्रज्ञमहिंसायां रतं तथा
Who is endowed with forgiveness, learned in the scriptures, and devoted to non-violence,
दद्याद्दानानि विप्राय स वै तारयितुं क्षमः
One should give gifts to such a brāhmaṇa; he is indeed fit to deliver.
कुण्डगोलं प्रतिग्राहि दातारं चाप्यधो नयेत्
If a brāhmaṇa who accepts gifts is like a well or a pit, he leads the donor downward.
दृष्ट्वा तं पितरो यान्ति निराशा निरयं द्रुतम्
Seeing him, the ancestors become hopeless and quickly go to hell.
तस्माद्दानं न दातव्यमपात्राय यशस्विनि
Therefore, O illustrious one, gifts should not be given to the unworthy.
अवन्तीविषये कश्चिद्राजा ह्यत्यन्तधार्मिकः
In the land of Avanti, there was a king who was exceedingly righteous.
राज्ञः पुरोहितश्चासीच्चन्द्रशर्म्मा द्विजोत्तमः
The king's priest was Candrasharma, a foremost Brahmin.
स राजा ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च गा ददाति दिने दिने
That king gave cows to Brahmins every day.
गते बहुतिथे काले राज्ञो मेधातिथेः पितुः विप्रानाह्वापयामास पितुर्वै श्राद्धकारणात्
After much time had passed, Medhatithi, the king's son, summoned Brahmins for his father's śrāddha ceremony.
आगतान्ब्राह्मणान्दृष्ट्वा मेधातिथिरकल्मषः 189.
Seeing the Brahmins who had arrived, Medhatithi was afflicted by impurity.
श्राद्धं कृत्वा तु विधिवत्पिण्डान्निर्वाप्य यत्नतः
He performed the śrāddha according to the proper rites, carefully offering the rice balls.
तन्मध्ये ब्राह्मणः कश्चिद्गोलकोऽवस्थितस्तदा
Among them, at that time, a certain Brahmin named Golaka was present.
तेनैव श्राद्धदोषेण राज्ञस्तु पितरस्तदा
Because of that fault in the śrāddha, the king's ancestors at that time—
क्षुत्पिपासार्दिता नित्यं क्रन्दन्ते च पुनः पुनः
—were constantly afflicted by hunger and thirst, and cried out again and again.
मृगयार्थं गतस्तत्र द्वित्रैः परिजनैर्वृतः
He went there for hunting, accompanied by two or three attendants.
के भवन्तोऽत्र संप्राप्ता दशामेतां सुदुःखिताः
Who are you who have arrived here, suffering such a miserable condition?
पितर ऊचुः वयं तस्यैव पितरो नरकं गन्तुमुद्यताः
The ancestors said: We are his own forefathers, about to go to hell.
तेषां तु वचनं श्रुत्वा राजा दुःखसमन्वितः
Hearing their words, the king was filled with sorrow.
मेधातिथिरुवाच केन वै कर्मदोषेण निरयं गन्तुमुद्यताः
Medhatithi said: By what fault in action are you about to go to hell?
पितर ऊचुः तेनैव कर्मदोषेण नरकं गन्तुमुद्यताः ।। 189.
The ancestors said: By that very fault in action, we are about to go to hell.
तत्र दुःखं महद्भुक्त्वा पुनर्गच्छामहे दिवम्
There, after enduring great suffering, we again ascend to heaven.
असंख्यातास्त्वया दत्ता गावः सुबहुदक्षिणा
Innumerable cows, with abundant gifts, have been given by you.