Yama and the Brahmin Sharmin

Verse 1 (13.103.1)

तिलानां कीदृशं दानमथ दीपस्य चैव हि । अन्नानां वाससां चैव भूय एव ब्रवीहि मे ॥

tilānāṃ kīdṛśaṃ dānamatha dīpasya caiva hi | annānāṃ vāsasāṃ caiva bhūya eva bravīhi me

What is the gift of sesame like, and of lamps, and of food and of garments? Tell me more.

Note on the text: Corrected वाससा चैव → वाससां चैव (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvara; "of garments" (plural) is wanted beside annānām, CE vāsasāṃ caiva).

Verse 2 (13.103.2)

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । ब्राह्मणस्य च संवादं यमस्य च युधिष्ठिर ॥

atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | brāhmaṇasya ca saṃvādaṃ yamasya ca yudhiṣṭhira

On this they tell an ancient tale, Yudhishthira, a dialogue between a Brahmin and Yama.

Verse 3 (13.103.3)

मध्यदेशे महान्ग्रामो ब्राह्मणानां बभूव ह । गङ्गायमुनयोर्मध्ये यामुनस्य गिरेरधः ॥

madhyadeśe mahāngrāmo brāhmaṇānāṃ babhūva ha | gaṅgāyamunayormadhye yāmunasya gireradhaḥ

There was once a large village of Brahmins in the Madhyadesha, between the Ganga and the Yamuna, below the mountain of the Yamuna.

Verse 4 (13.103.4)

पर्णशालेति विख्यातो रमणीयो नराधिप । विद्वांसस्तत्र भूयिष्ठा ब्राह्मणाश्चावसंस्तथा ॥

parṇaśāleti vikhyāto ramaṇīyo narādhipa | vidvāṃsastatra bhūyiṣṭhā brāhmaṇāścāvasaṃstathā

It was known as Parnashala, a pleasant place, O lord of men; learned men, most of them Brahmins, lived there then.

Note on the text: Corrected विद्वांशस्तत्र → विद्वांसस्तत्र (misprint in Wikisource; "vidvāṃśaḥ" is no form; the nominative plural is vidvāṃsaḥ, CE vidvāṃsas).

Verse 5 (13.103.5)

अथ प्राह यमः कञ्चित्पुरुषं कृष्णवाससम् । रक्ताक्षमूर्ध्वरोमाणं काकजङ्घाक्षिनासिकम् ॥

atha prāha yamaḥ kañcitpuruṣaṃ kṛṣṇavāsasam | raktākṣamūrdhvaromāṇaṃ kākajaṅghākṣināsikam

Then Yama spoke to a man in black garments, red-eyed, his hair standing up, with the shanks, eyes and nose of a crow.

Verse 6 (13.103.6)

गच्छ त्वं ब्राह्मणग्रामं ततो गत्वा तमानय । अगस्त्यं गोत्रतश्चापि नामतश्चापि शर्मिणम् ॥

gaccha tvaṃ brāhmaṇagrāmaṃ tato gatvā tamānaya | agastyaṃ gotrataścāpi nāmataścāpi śarmiṇam

Go to the village of Brahmins, and when you have gone there, bring him: Agastya by gotra, and Sharmin by name.

Verse 7 (13.103.7)

शमे निविष्टं विद्वांसमध्यापकमनावृतम् । मा चान्यमानयेथास्त्वं सगोत्रं तस्य पार्श्वतः ॥

śame niviṣṭaṃ vidvāṃsamadhyāpakamanāvṛtam | mā cānyamānayethāstvaṃ sagotraṃ tasya pārśvataḥ

He is settled in tranquillity, learned, a teacher, with nothing hidden. Do not bring another, one of his own gotra who lives beside him.

Note on the text: "अनावृतम्" kept; the CE reads anādṛtam and the page's gloss records "अनानृतम्" and "अनारतम्" as variants.

Verse 8 (13.103.8)

स हि तादृग्गुणस्तेन तुल्योऽध्ययनजन्मना । अपत्येषु तथा वृत्ते समस्तेनैव धीमता । तमानय यथोद्दिष्टं पूजा कार्या हि तस्य मे ॥

sa hi tādṛgguṇastena tulyo'dhyayanajanmanā | apatyeṣu tathā vṛtte samastenaiva dhīmatā | tamānaya yathoddiṣṭaṃ pūjā kāryā hi tasya me

For he has such qualities, and is equal to the other in study and in birth; and the wise man is even-handed in his conduct towards his children. Bring that very one, as I have described, for I must honour him.

Note on the text: Three lines = CE 13.67.8a, 8c, 8e.

Verse 9 (13.103.9)

स गत्वा प्रतिकूलं तच्चकार यमशासनम् । तमाक्रम्यानयामास प्रतिषिद्धो यमेन यः ॥

sa gatvā pratikūlaṃ taccakāra yamaśāsanam | tamākramyānayāmāsa pratiṣiddho yamena yaḥ

The messenger went, but acted against Yama's command: he seized and brought the man whom Yama had forbidden him to bring.

Verse 10 (13.103.10)

तस्मै यमः समुत्थाय पूजां कृत्वा च वीर्यवान् । प्रोवाच नीयतामेष सोऽन्य आनीयतामिति ॥

tasmai yamaḥ samutthāya pūjāṃ kṛtvā ca vīryavān | provāca nīyatāmeṣa so'nya ānīyatāmiti

Yama rose and honoured him, that mighty one, and said, "Let this one be taken back, and let the other be brought."

Note on the text: Corrected पूजा कृत्वा → पूजां कृत्वा (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvara; "having done honour" takes the accusative, CE pūjāṃ kṛtvā).

Verse 11 (13.103.11)

एवमुक्ते तु वचने धर्मराजेन स द्विजः । उवाच धर्मराजानं निर्विण्णोऽध्ययनेन वै । यो मे कालो भवेच्छेषस्तं वसेयमिहाच्युत ॥

evamukte tu vacane dharmarājena sa dvijaḥ | uvāca dharmarājānaṃ nirviṇṇo'dhyayanena vai | yo me kālo bhaveccheṣastaṃ vaseyamihācyuta

When the king of dharma had spoken thus, that Brahmin, weary of study, said to him, "Whatever time of my life remains, O unfallen one, let me spend here."

Note on the text: Three lines = CE 13.67.11a, 11c, 11e. Lines 2-3 are the Brahmin's words, reported inside the narration.

Verse 12 (13.103.12)

नाहं कालस्य विहितं प्राप्नोमीह कथञ्चन । यो हि धर्मं चरति वै तं तु जानामि केवलम् ॥

nāhaṃ kālasya vihitaṃ prāpnomīha kathañcana | yo hi dharmaṃ carati vai taṃ tu jānāmi kevalam

I do not find here, in any way, an ordained span of time that is yours; I know only the man who practises dharma.

Verse 13 (13.103.13)

गच्छ विप्र त्वमद्यैव आलयं स्वं महाद्युते । ब्रूहि सर्वं यथा स्वैरं करवाणि किमच्युत ॥

gaccha vipra tvamadyaiva ālayaṃ svaṃ mahādyute | brūhi sarvaṃ yathā svairaṃ karavāṇi kimacyuta

Go, O Brahmin, to your own house this very day, you of great splendour; or tell me everything as you please, what shall I do for you, O unfallen one?

Note on the text: Variant of CE 13.67.13 (CE: brūhi vā tvaṃ yathā svairaṃ karavāṇi kim ity uta).

Verse 14 (13.103.14)

शुद्धदानं च सुमहत्पुण्यं स्यात्तद्ब्रवीहि मे । सर्वस्य हि प्रमाणं त्वं त्रैलोक्यस्यापि सत्तम ॥

śuddhadānaṃ ca sumahatpuṇyaṃ syāttadbravīhi me | sarvasya hi pramāṇaṃ tvaṃ trailokyasyāpi sattama

Tell me what pure gift would bring me very great merit; for you are the authority for all, even for the three worlds, best of beings.

Note on the text: Variant of CE 13.67.14 (CE: yat tatra kṛtvā sumahat puṇyaṃ syāt tad bravīhi me).

Verse 15 (13.103.15)

शृणु तत्त्वेन विप्रर्षे प्रदानविधिमुत्तमम् । तिलाः परमकं दानं पुण्यं चैवेह शाश्वतम् ॥

śṛṇu tattvena viprarṣe pradānavidhimuttamam | tilāḥ paramakaṃ dānaṃ puṇyaṃ caiveha śāśvatam

Listen in truth, O sage among Brahmins, to the best rule of giving. Sesame is the highest gift, and its merit is lasting.

Note on the text: Corrected विप्रर्पे → विप्रर्षे (misprint in Wikisource; "viprarpe" is no word; the vocative is viprarṣe, CE viprarṣe).

Verse 16 (13.103.16)

तिलाश्च सम्प्रदातव्या यथाशक्ति द्विजर्षभ । नित्यदानात्सर्वकामांस्तिला निर्वर्तयन्त्युत ॥

tilāśca sampradātavyā yathāśakti dvijarṣabha | nityadānātsarvakāmāṃstilā nirvartayantyuta

Sesame should be given according to one's means, best of the twice-born; by constant giving, sesame fulfils every desire.

Verse 17 (13.103.17)

तिलाञ्श्राद्धे प्रशंसन्ति दानमेतद्ध्यनुत्तमम् । तान्प्रयच्छस्व विप्रेभ्यो विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥

tilāñśrāddhe praśaṃsanti dānametaddhyanuttamam | tānprayacchasva viprebhyo vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā

They praise sesame in the shraddha; this gift is unsurpassed. Give it to Brahmins by the rite that the scriptures show.

Note on the text: Corrected विप्रेभअयो → विप्रेभ्यो (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct, CE viprebhyaḥ). Corrected कर्मणाः → कर्मणा (misprint in Wikisource; stray visarga; the instrumental karmaṇā is wanted, CE karmaṇā).

Verse 18 (13.103.18)

वैशाख्यां पौर्णमास्यां तु तिलान्दद्याद्द्विजातिषु । तिला भक्षयितव्याश्च सदा त्वालम्भं च तैः ॥

vaiśākhyāṃ paurṇamāsyāṃ tu tilāndadyāddvijātiṣu | tilā bhakṣayitavyāśca sadā tvālambhaṃ ca taiḥ

On the full-moon day of Vaishakha one should give sesame to the twice-born; and sesame should always be eaten, and the body rubbed with it.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE star passage 13.67.17d*0354_01 (vaiśākhyāṃ paurṇamāsyāṃ tu tilān dadyād dvijātiṣu); line 2 = CE 13.67.18a. The CE's second star passage 13.67.17d*0355_01 (teṣāṃ māghyāṃ pradānena sarvān kāmān avāpnuyāt) is not in Wikisource; not added.

Verse 19 (13.103.19)

कार्यं सततमिच्छद्भिः श्रेयः सर्वात्मना गृहे । तथाऽऽपः सर्वदा देयाः पेयाश्चैव न संशयः ॥

kāryaṃ satatamicchadbhiḥ śreyaḥ sarvātmanā gṛhe | tathā''paḥ sarvadā deyāḥ peyāścaiva na saṃśayaḥ

Those who wish for their good should always do this at home with their whole heart; likewise water must always be given and drunk, without doubt.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 13.67.18c, line 2 = CE 13.67.19a.

Verse 20 (13.103.20)

पुष्करिण्यस्तटाकानि कूपांश्चैवात्र खानयेत् । एतत्सुदुर्लभतरमिह लोके द्विजोत्तम ॥

puṣkariṇyastaṭākāni kūpāṃścaivātra khānayet | etatsudurlabhataramiha loke dvijottama

One should have ponds, tanks and wells dug here. This is very hard to come by in this world, best of Brahmins.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 13.67.19c, line 2 = CE 13.67.20a.

Verse 21 (13.103.21)

आपो नित्यं प्रदेयास्ते पुण्यं ह्येतदनुत्तमम् । प्रपाश्च कार्या दानार्थं नित्यं ते द्विजसत्तम । भुक्तेऽप्यथ प्रदेयं तु पानीयं वै विशेषतः ॥

āpo nityaṃ pradeyāste puṇyaṃ hyetadanuttamam | prapāśca kāryā dānārthaṃ nityaṃ te dvijasattama | bhukte'pyatha pradeyaṃ tu pānīyaṃ vai viśeṣataḥ

Water should always be given by you; this merit is unsurpassed. And water-huts should always be set up by you for giving, best of Brahmins; and water should be given above all even to one who has eaten.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 13.67.20c, line 2 = CE 13.67.21a (variant: दानार्थं for pānārtham), line 3 = CE 13.67.21c.

Verse 22 (13.103.22)

पानीयाभ्यर्थिनं दृष्ट्वा प्रीत्या दत्त्वा त्वरान्वितः । वस्त्रे तन्तुप्रमाणेन दीपे निमिषवत्सरम् ॥

pānīyābhyarthinaṃ dṛṣṭvā prītyā dattvā tvarānvitaḥ | vastre tantupramāṇena dīpe nimiṣavatsaram

When you see someone asking for water, give it quickly and gladly. For a garment the reward is measured by the threads of the cloth; for a lamp, by a year for each wink of the eye.

Note on the text: Removed the stray opening backtick by which Wikisource marks this as an addition. Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines 1-2 = CE star passage 13.67.26b*0356_01-02 (pānīyābhyarthinaṃ dṛṣṭvā prītyā dadyāt tvarānvitaḥ / vastre tantupramāṇena dīpe nimiṣavatsaram), with a variant (दत्त्वा for dadyāt). It sits inside Yama's speech.

Verse 23 (13.103.23)

गवां रोमप्रमाणेन स्वर्गभोगमुपाश्नुते । जलबिन्दुप्रमाणेन तदेतान्युपवर्तय ॥

gavāṃ romapramāṇena svargabhogamupāśnute | jalabindupramāṇena tadetānyupavartaya

For a cow, the enjoyment of heaven lasts as many years as the hairs on her body; for water, in proportion to its drops. Therefore practise these gifts.

Note on the text: Removed the stray closing quote and doubled danda (and the stray ।।') by which Wikisource marks the end of the addition. Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines = CE star passage 13.67.26b*0356_03-04 (gavāṃ lomapramāṇena svargabhogam upāśnute / jale bindupramāṇena tad etāny upavartaya), with variants (रोम for loma, जलबिन्दु for jale bindu).

Verse 24 (13.103.24)

इत्युक्ते स तदा तेन यमदूतेन वै गृहान् । नीतश्च कारयामास सर्वं तद्यमशासनम् ॥

ityukte sa tadā tena yamadūtena vai gṛhān | nītaśca kārayāmāsa sarvaṃ tadyamaśāsanam

When he had been told this, the Brahmin was led back to his house by Yama's messenger, and he carried out all that Yama had commanded.

Note on the text: Wikisource attaches this to Bhishma's heading (भीष्म उवाच), which closes Yama's speech.

Verse 25 (13.103.25)

नीत्वा तं यमदूतोऽपि गृहीत्वा शर्मिणं तदा । ययौ स धर्मराजाय न्यवेदयत चापि तम् ॥

nītvā taṃ yamadūto'pi gṛhītvā śarmiṇaṃ tadā | yayau sa dharmarājāya nyavedayata cāpi tam

Having led him home, Yama's messenger then took Sharmin, went to the king of dharma, and presented him.

Verse 26 (13.103.26)

तं धर्मराजो धर्मज्ञं पूजयित्वा प्रतापवान् । कृत्वा च संविदं तेन विससर्ज यथागतम् ॥

taṃ dharmarājo dharmajñaṃ pūjayitvā pratāpavān | kṛtvā ca saṃvidaṃ tena visasarja yathāgatam

The mighty king of dharma honoured that man who knew dharma, made an agreement with him, and sent him away as he had come.

Verse 27 (13.103.27)

तस्यापि च यमः सर्वमुपदेशं चकार ह । प्रेत्यैत्य च ततः सर्वं चकारोक्तं यमेन तत् ॥

tasyāpi ca yamaḥ sarvamupadeśaṃ cakāra ha | pretyaitya ca tataḥ sarvaṃ cakāroktaṃ yamena tat

Yama gave him full instruction as well; and having returned, he did all that Yama had told him.

Note on the text: Variant of CE 13.67.25 (CE: pratyetya ca sa tat sarvaṃ cakāroktaṃ yamena tat).

Verse 28 (13.103.28)

तथा प्रशंसते दीपान्यमः पितृहितेप्सया । तस्माद्दीपप्रदो नित्यं सन्तारयति वै पितॄन् ॥

tathā praśaṃsate dīpānyamaḥ pitṛhitepsayā | tasmāddīpaprado nityaṃ santārayati vai pitṝn

Thus Yama praises lamps, out of a wish for the welfare of the ancestors; therefore the giver of lamps always carries his ancestors across.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रशंसने → प्रशंसते (misprint in Wikisource; "praśaṃsane" does not govern the accusative dīpān; the verb is praśaṃsate, CE praśaṃsate). Corrected सन्तारति → सन्तारयति (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ya, which also breaks the metre; CE saṃtārayati).

Verse 29 (13.103.29)

दातव्याः सततं दीपास्तस्माद्भरतसत्तम । देवतानां पितॄणां च चक्षुष्यं चात्मनां विभो ॥

dātavyāḥ satataṃ dīpāstasmādbharatasattama | devatānāṃ pitṝṇāṃ ca cakṣuṣyaṃ cātmanāṃ vibho

Therefore lamps should always be given, best of the Bharatas; they are good for the eyes of the gods, of the ancestors and of oneself, O mighty one.

Note on the text: Variant of CE 13.67.27 (CE: devānāṃ ca pitṝṇāṃ ca cakṣuṣy āste matāḥ prabho).

Verse 30 (13.103.30)

रत्नदानं च सुमहत्पुण्यमुक्तं जनाधिप । यस्तान्विक्रीय यजते ब्राह्मणो ह्यभयंकरम् ॥

ratnadānaṃ ca sumahatpuṇyamuktaṃ janādhipa | yastānvikrīya yajate brāhmaṇo hyabhayaṃkaram

The gift of jewels too is told to be of very great merit, O lord of men. A Brahmin who sells them and sacrifices with the proceeds brings fearlessness.

Note on the text: Variant of CE 13.67.28 (CE: tāni vikrīya yajate).

Verse 31 (13.103.31)

यद्वै ददाति विप्रेभ्यो ब्राह्मणः प्रतिगृह्य वै । उभयोः स्यात्तदक्षय्यं दातुरादातुरेव च ॥

yadvai dadāti viprebhyo brāhmaṇaḥ pratigṛhya vai | ubhayoḥ syāttadakṣayyaṃ dāturādātureva ca

Whatever a Brahmin, having received it, gives on to Brahmins, its merit is imperishable for both the giver and the receiver.

Verse 32 (13.103.32)

यो ददाति स्थितः स्थित्यां तादृशाय प्रतिग्रहम् । उभयोरक्षयं धर्मं तं मनुः प्राह धर्मवित् ॥

yo dadāti sthitaḥ sthityāṃ tādṛśāya pratigraham | ubhayorakṣayaṃ dharmaṃ taṃ manuḥ prāha dharmavit

He who, standing in his proper station, gives a gift to a fitting recipient, earns imperishable merit for both; so said Manu, who knew dharma.

Verse 33 (13.103.33)

वाससां सम्प्रदानेन स्वदारनिरतो नरः । सुवस्त्रश्च सुवेषश्च भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम ॥

vāsasāṃ sampradānena svadāranirato naraḥ | suvastraśca suveṣaśca bhavatītyanuśuśruma

By giving garments, a man devoted to his own wife becomes well clothed and well attired; so we have heard.

Note on the text: Corrected सम्प्रदानेनि → सम्प्रदानेन (misprint in Wikisource; stray vowel sign; instrumental sampradānena, CE pradānena). Variant of CE 13.67.31 (CE: vāsasāṃ tu pradānena).

Verse 34 (13.103.34)

गावः सुवर्णं च तथा तिलाश्चैवानुवर्णिताः । बहुशः पुरुषव्याघ्र वेदप्रामाण्यदर्शनात् ॥

gāvaḥ suvarṇaṃ ca tathā tilāścaivānuvarṇitāḥ | bahuśaḥ puruṣavyāghra vedaprāmāṇyadarśanāt

Cows, gold and sesame have been described many times, O tiger among men, since the authority of the Veda is seen in them.

Verse 35 (13.103.35)

विवाहांश्चैव कुर्वीत पुत्रानुत्पादयेत च । पुत्रलाभो हि कौरव्य सर्वलाभाद्विशिष्यते ॥

vivāhāṃścaiva kurvīta putrānutpādayeta ca | putralābho hi kauravya sarvalābhādviśiṣyate

One should marry and beget sons; for the gaining of a son, O descendant of Kuru, surpasses every other gain.