Vayu Purana

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—

दानान्यतानि विप्रेभ्यो भोजयित्वा यथाविधि। प्राप्नोति श्रद्दधानस्तु वाजपेयशतं फलम् ।। १८.

Whoever gives these gifts to Brāhmaṇas, feeding them according to the proper rule, attains, with faith, the fruit of a hundred Vājapeya sacrifices.

बह्वयो नार्य्यः सुरूपास्तु पुत्रा भृत्याश्च किङ्कराः। वशे तिष्ठन्ति भूतानि अस्मिँल्लोके त्वनामयम् ।। १८.

Many beautiful women, sons, servants, and attendants remain under his control in this world, and he is free from disease.

कौशेयं क्षौमकार्पासं दुकूलसहितं तथा। श्राद्धेष्वेतानि यो दद्यात् कामानाप्नोति पुष्कलान् ।। १८.

Whoever gives silk, linen, cotton, and also garments with fine borders at śrāddhas attains abundant desired objects.

अलक्ष्मीं विनुदत्याशु तमः सूर्य्योदये यथा। भ्राजते स विमानाग्रे नक्षत्रेष्विव चन्द्रमाः ।। १८.

He quickly drives away misfortune, just as darkness is dispelled at sunrise; he shines at the forefront of celestial palaces like the moon among the stars.

वासो हि सर्वदैवत्यं सर्वदेवैस्त्वभिष्टुतम्। वस्त्राभावे क्रिया नास्ति यज्ञा वेदास्तपांसि च ।। १८.

Clothing is indeed the universal deity, praised by all the gods; without garments, there is no ritual, nor sacrifice, nor Veda, nor austerity.

तस्माद्वस्त्राणि देयानि श्राद्धकाले विशेषतः। तानि सर्वाण्यवाप्नाप्नोति यज्ञवेदतपांसि च ।। १८.

Therefore, garments should especially be given at the time of śrāddha; by giving these, one attains all sacrifices, Vedas, and austerities.

नित्यं श्राद्धेषु यो दद्यात् प्रयतस्तत्परायणः । सर्वान् कामानवाप्नोति सर्वं राज्यं तथैव च ।। १८.

Whoever always gives at śrāddhas, with effort and devotion, attains all desires and likewise all sovereignty.

सर्वकामसमृद्धस्य यज्ञस्य फलमश्नुते। भक्ष्यान् धानाः करम्भांश्च पिष्टकान् घृतशर्कराः ।। १८.

He enjoys the fruit of a sacrifice abounding in all desired objects; cooked rice, grains, cakes, and flour mixed with ghee and sugar—

कृशरान्मधु कर्कञ्च पयः पायसमेव च। स्निग्धांश्च पूपान् यो दद्यादग्निष्टोमस्य यत् फलम् ।। १८.

Gruel, honey, sugarcane, milk, and also milk-rice; whoever gives these rich cakes attains the fruit of an Agniṣṭoma sacrifice.

दधि गव्यमसंसृष्टं भक्ष्या नानाविधास्तथा। तदन्नं शोचति श्राद्धे वर्षासु च मघासु च ।। १८.

Curds, pure cow's milk, and various kinds of food—such food, when given at śrāddha, is praised in the rainy season and under the Maghā constellation.