Vayu Purana

कृतं विप्रेषु यो दद्याछ्राद्धकाले कमण्डलुम्। मधुक्षीरस्रवा धेनुर्दातारमुपतिष्ठति ।। १८.

He who gives a water-pot made of metal to Brahmins at the time of śrāddha is approached by a cow that yields honey and milk.

चक्राविद्धं तु यो दद्याच्छ्राद्धकाले कमण्डलुम्। धेनुं स लभते दिव्यां पयोदां काम्यदोहिनीम् ।। १८.

He who gives a water-pot pierced with a wheel at the time of śrāddha obtains a divine cow that gives milk and fulfills desires.

पूर्णसय्यां तु यो दद्यात् पुष्पमालाविभूषिताम्। प्रासादो ह्युत्तमो भूत्वा गच्छन्तमनुगच्छति ।। १८.

He who gives a complete bed adorned with a garland of flowers at the śrāddha, is followed by an excellent palace as he departs.

भवनं रत्नसम्पूर्णं सशय्यासनभोजनम्। श्राद्धे दत्त्वा यतिभ्यस्तु नाकपृष्ठे स मोदते ।। १८.

He who gives a residence filled with jewels, furnished with beds, seats, and food, to ascetics at a śrāddha, delights on the heights of heaven.

मुक्ता वैढूर्य्यवासांसि रत्नानि विविधानि च। वाहनानि च दिव्यानि अयुतान्यर्ब्बुदानि च ।। १८.

Pearls, garments of beryl, and various jewels, as well as divine vehicles numbering in tens of thousands and hundreds of millions, are obtained.

सुमहज्ज्वलनप्रख्यं रत्नकामसमन्वितम् । सूर्य्यचन्द्र प्रभं दिव्यं विमानं लभतेऽक्षयम् ।। १८.

He attains an immense, radiant, jewel-adorned, wish-fulfilling, divine palace, shining with the brilliance of the sun and moon, which is imperishable.

अप्सरोभिः परिवृतं कामगं तु मनोजवम्। वसते स विमानाग्रे स्तूयमानः समन्ततः ।। १८.

Surrounded by apsarases, swift as thought and fulfilling desires, he dwells at the forefront of the palace, praised from all sides.

दिव्यैर्गन्धैः प्रसिञ्चन्ति पुष्पवृष्टिभिरेव च। गन्धर्वाप्सरसस्तत्र गायन्ते वादयन्ति च ।। १८.

There, gandharvas and apsarases sprinkle him with divine fragrances and showers of flowers, singing and playing music.

कन्या युवतयो मुख्याः सहिताश्चाप्सरोगणैः। सुस्वरैस्तं विबुध्यन्ते सततं हि मनोरमैः ।। १८.

Principal maidens and young women, together with groups of apsarases, continually awaken him with pleasant voices, always enchanting.

अश्वदानसहस्रेण रथदानशतेन च। दन्तिनां च सहस्रेण योगिन्या वसते नरः ।। १८.

A man dwells among yogins with a thousand gifts of horses, a hundred gifts of chariots, and a thousand elephants.

दद्यात् पितृभ्यो योगिभ्यो यस्तूज्ज्वलनमम्भसि। अथ निष्कसहस्राणां फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः ।। १८.

Whoever gives bright fire in water to ancestors and yogins receives the reward of thousands of gold coins.

जीवितस्य प्रदानाद्धि नान्यद्दानं विशिष्यते। तस्मात् सर्वप्रयत्नेन देयं प्राणाभिरक्षणम् ।। १८.

Indeed, no gift surpasses the giving of life; therefore, with all effort, one should give the protection of life.

अहिंसा सर्व्वदेवेभ्यः पवित्रा सर्व्वदायिनी। दानं हि जीवितस्याहुः प्राणिनां परमं बुधाः ।। १८.

Nonviolence is pure for all gods and the giver of all; wise ones declare that the gift of life is supreme among living beings.

लक्षणानि सुवर्णानि श्राद्धे पात्राणि दापयेत्। रसास्तमुपतिष्ठन्ति गवां पुष्टिस्तथैव च ।। १८.

One should give golden vessels with auspicious marks at a śrāddha; flavors attend him, as does the nourishment of cows.

पात्रं वै तैजसं दद्यान्मनोज्ञं श्राद्धभोजने। पात्रं भवति कामानां रूपस्य च धनस्य च ।। १८.

One should give a pleasing vessel made of gold at the śrāddha meal; the vessel becomes a source of desires, beauty, and wealth.

राजतं काञ्चनं वापि दद्याच्छ्राद्धे तु कर्म्मणि। दत्त्वा तु लभते दाता प्रकामं धर्म्ममेव च ।। १८.

One may give a silver or gold vessel in the śrāddha rite; having given, the donor attains abundant virtue.

धेनुं श्राद्धे तु यो दद्यात् वृष्टि कुम्भोपदोहनाम्। गावस्तमुपतिष्ठन्ति गवां पुष्टिस्तथैव च ।। १८.

Whoever gives a cow at a śrāddha, one that yields milk and fills a pot, receives the nourishment of cows.

शिशिरेषु तथा त्वग्निं बहुकाष्ठं तथैव च। इन्धनानि तु यो दद्याद्द्विजेभ्यः शिशि रागमे ।। १८.

In winter, whoever gives much firewood and fuel to twice-borns for warmth, attains merit.

नित्यं जयति संग्रामे श्रिया युक्तश्चदीप्यते। सुरभीणि च माल्यानि गन्धवन्ति तथैव च ।। १८.

He always triumphs in battle, shines with prosperity, and receives fragrant garlands and likewise scented ones.

पूजयित्वा तु पात्राणि श्राद्धे सत्कृत्य दापयेत्। गन्धवाहा महानद्यः सुखानि विविधानि च ।। १८.

Having honored the vessels at the śrāddha, one should give them with respect; fragrant breezes, great rivers, and various comforts attend him.

दातारमुपतिष्ठन्ति युवत्यश्च मनोरमाः। शयनासनानि रम्याणि भूमयो वाहनानि च ।। १८.

Charming young women attend the donor, as do delightful beds, seats, lands, and vehicles.

श्राद्धेऽप्येतानि यो दद्यादश्वमेधफलं लभेत्। श्राद्धकालेनिवेद्यं च दर्शश्राद्ध उपस्थिते ।। १८.

Whoever gives these things even at a śrāddha obtains the fruit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice; and these should be offered at the time of śrāddha, especially when the śrāddha for ancestors is performed.

विप्राणां गुणयुक्तानां स्मृतिं मेधां च विन्दति। सर्पिष्पूर्णानि पात्राणि श्राद्धे सत्कृत्य दापयेत् ।। १८.

He attains memory and intelligence for the Brāhmaṇas endowed with virtue, if he gives vessels filled with ghee at the śrāddha, honoring them properly.

कुम्भदोहनधेनूनां बह्वीनां च फलं लभेत्। अस्मिस्तु मोदते लोके स्यन्दनैश्च सुवाहनैः ।। १८.

He obtains the fruit of giving many jars, milch cows, and he enjoys in this world with splendid chariots and excellent vehicles.

श्राद्धे यथेप्सितं दत्त्वा पुण्डरीकस्य यत्फलम्। रम्यमावसथं दत्त्वा राजसूयफलं लभेत् ।। १८.

By giving as much as desired at the śrāddha, one attains the fruit of a lotus; by giving a beautiful dwelling, one obtains the fruit of a Rājasūya sacrifice.

वनं पुष्पफलोपेतं दत्त्वा सौरभमश्नुते। कूपारामतडागानि क्षेत्रघोषगृहाणि च ।। १८.

By giving a forest adorned with flowers and fruits, one enjoys fragrance; wells, gardens, ponds, fields, villages, and houses—

दत्त्वैतान् मोदते स्वर्गे नित्यमाचन्द्रतारकम्। आस्तीर्णशयनं दत्त्वा श्राद्धे रत्नविभूषितम् ।। १८.

By giving these, one delights in heaven forever, as long as the moon and stars endure; by giving a bed spread with fine coverings and adorned with jewels at the śrāddha—

पितरस्तस्य तुष्यन्ति स्वर्गं चानन्त्यमश्नुते। राजभिः पूज्यते चापि धनधान्यैश्च वर्द्धते ।। १८.

His ancestors are satisfied, and he enjoys endless heaven; he is honored by kings and increases in wealth and grain.

ऊर्णाकौशेयवस्त्राणि तथा प्रवरकम्बलौ। अजिनं काञ्चनं पट्टं प्रवेणी मृगलोमकम् ।। १८.

Woolen and silk garments, as well as excellent blankets, deerskin, gold, silk cloth, braided girdles, and furs—