The Merit of Tanks and Planting Trees

Verse 1 (13.93.1)

आरामाणां तटाकानां यत्फलं कुरुपुङ्गव । तदहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि त्वत्तोऽद्य भरतर्षभ ॥

ārāmāṇāṃ taṭākānāṃ yatphalaṃ kurupuṅgava | tadahaṃ śrotumicchāmi tvatto'dya bharatarṣabha

I wish to hear from you today, O best of the Kurus, O best of the Bharatas, what fruit comes from making groves and tanks.

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 13.99.1 (the automatic alignment missed it). Recension variant kept: कुरुपुङ्गव (CE kurunandana).

Verse 2 (13.93.2)

सुप्रदर्शा बलवती चित्रा धातुविभूषिता । उपेता सर्वभूतैश्च श्रेष्ठा भूमिरिहोच्यते ॥

supradarśā balavatī citrā dhātuvibhūṣitā | upetā sarvabhūtaiśca śreṣṭhā bhūmirihocyate

The earth is called the best of all: fair to behold, strong, varied, adorned with minerals, and endowed with every kind of creature.

Verse 3 (13.93.3)

तस्याः क्षेत्रविशेषाश्च तटाकानां च बन्धनम् । औदकानि च सर्वाणि प्रवक्ष्याम्यनुपूर्वशः ॥

tasyāḥ kṣetraviśeṣāśca taṭākānāṃ ca bandhanam | audakāni ca sarvāṇi pravakṣyāmyanupūrvaśaḥ

I shall tell you in due order about the special kinds of ground for tanks, about how tanks are embanked, and about everything that concerns water.

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 13.99.3. Recension variant kept: line 1 ends तटाकानां च बन्धनम् (CE taḍāgānāṃ niveśanam).

Verse 4 (13.93.4)

तटाकानां च वक्ष्यामि कृतानां चापि ये गुणाः । त्रिषु लोकेषु सर्वत्र पूजनीयस्तटाकवान् ॥

taṭākānāṃ ca vakṣyāmi kṛtānāṃ cāpi ye guṇāḥ | triṣu lokeṣu sarvatra pūjanīyastaṭākavān

I shall also tell you the merits of tanks and of those who have made them: one who has a tank is honoured everywhere in the three worlds.

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 13.99.4. Recension variant kept: line 2 पूजनीयस्तटाकवान् (CE pūjito yas taḍāgavān).

Verse 5 (13.93.5)

अथवा मित्रसदनं मैत्रं मित्रविवर्धनम् । कीर्तिसंजननं श्रेष्ठं तटाकानां निवेशनम् ॥

athavā mitrasadanaṃ maitraṃ mitravivardhanam | kīrtisaṃjananaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ taṭākānāṃ niveśanam

The founding of tanks is the best of works: it is a home for friends, dear to Mitra, it increases friendship and brings forth fame.

Verse 6 (13.93.6)

धर्मस्यार्थस्य कामस्य फलमाहुर्मनीषिणः । तटाकसुकृतं देशे क्षेत्रमेकं महाश्रयम् ॥

dharmasyārthasya kāmasya phalamāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ | taṭākasukṛtaṃ deśe kṣetramekaṃ mahāśrayam

The wise say that a well-made tank in a region yields the fruit of dharma, of wealth and of desire; it is a single great refuge.

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 13.99.6. Recension variant kept: line 2 क्षेत्रमेकं महाश्रयम् (CE kṣetram eva mahāśrayam).

Verse 7 (13.93.7)

चतुर्विधानां भूतानां तटाकमुपलक्षयेत् । तटाकानि च सर्वाणि दिशन्ति श्रियमुत्तमाम् ॥

caturvidhānāṃ bhūtānāṃ taṭākamupalakṣayet | taṭākāni ca sarvāṇi diśanti śriyamuttamām

A tank should be seen as serving the four kinds of living beings; all tanks bestow supreme prosperity.

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 13.99.7 (the text agrees with the CE).

Verse 8 (13.93.8)

देवा मनुष्यगन्धर्वाः पितरोरगराक्षसाः । स्थावराणि च भूतानि संश्रयन्ति जलाशयम् ॥

devā manuṣyagandharvāḥ pitaroragarākṣasāḥ | sthāvarāṇi ca bhūtāni saṃśrayanti jalāśayam

Gods, men, gandharvas, ancestors, serpents, rakshasas and all the immovable creatures take refuge in a body of water.

Verse 9 (13.93.9)

तस्मात्तांस्ते प्रवक्ष्यामि तटाके ये गुणाः स्मृताः । या च तत्र फलावाप्तिर्ऋषिभिः समुदाहृताः ॥

tasmāttāṃste pravakṣyāmi taṭāke ye guṇāḥ smṛtāḥ | yā ca tatra phalāvāptirṛṣibhiḥ samudāhṛtāḥ

Therefore I shall tell you what merits are held to belong to a tank, and what fruit the sages have declared for it.

Verse 10 (13.93.10)

वर्षाकाले तटाके तु सलिलं यस्य तिष्ठति । अग्निहोत्रफलं तस्य फलमाहुर्मनीषिणः ॥

varṣākāle taṭāke tu salilaṃ yasya tiṣṭhati | agnihotraphalaṃ tasya phalamāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ

One in whose tank water remains in the rainy season gains, the wise say, the fruit of the agnihotra.

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 13.99.10. Recension variant kept: line 1 वर्षाकाले तटाके तु (CE varṣamātre taḍāge tu).

Verse 11 (13.93.11)

शरत्काले तु सलिलं तटाके यस्य तिष्ठति । गोसहस्रस्य स प्रेत्य लभते फलमुत्तमम् ॥

śaratkāle tu salilaṃ taṭāke yasya tiṣṭhati | gosahasrasya sa pretya labhate phalamuttamam

One in whose tank water remains in the autumn gains after death the supreme fruit of a thousand cows.

Verse 12 (13.93.12)

हेमन्तकाले सलिलं तटाके यस्य तिष्ठति । स वै बहुसुवर्णस्य यज्ञस्य लभते फलम् ॥

hemantakāle salilaṃ taṭāke yasya tiṣṭhati | sa vai bahusuvarṇasya yajñasya labhate phalam

One in whose tank water remains in the cold season gains the fruit of a sacrifice with abundant gold.

Verse 13 (13.93.13)

यस्य वै शैशिरे काले तटाके सलिलं भवेत् । तस्याग्निष्टोमयज्ञस्य फलमाहुर्मनीषिणः ॥

yasya vai śaiśire kāle taṭāke salilaṃ bhavet | tasyāgniṣṭomayajñasya phalamāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ

One in whose tank there is water in the dewy season gains, the wise say, the fruit of the agnishtoma sacrifice.

Verse 14 (13.93.14)

तटाकं सुकृतं यस्य वसन्ते तु महाश्रयम् । अतिरात्रस्य यज्ञस्य फलं स समुपाश्नुते ॥

taṭākaṃ sukṛtaṃ yasya vasante tu mahāśrayam | atirātrasya yajñasya phalaṃ sa samupāśnute

One whose well-made tank, a great refuge, holds water in the spring gains the fruit of the atiratra sacrifice.

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 13.99.14 (text agrees with CE 14a and 14c; the CE star line 14b* is not in Wikisource and is not added).

Verse 15 (13.93.15)

निदाघकाले पानीयं तटाके यस्य तिष्ठति । वाजिमेधफलं तस्य फलं वै मुनयो विदुः ॥

nidāghakāle pānīyaṃ taṭāke yasya tiṣṭhati | vājimedhaphalaṃ tasya phalaṃ vai munayo viduḥ

One in whose tank drinking water remains in the hot season gains the fruit of the horse sacrifice, so the sages know.

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 13.99.15. Recension variant kept: line 2 वाजिमेधफलं तस्य (CE vājapeyasamaṃ tasya).

Verse 16 (13.93.16)

स कुलं तारयेत्सर्वं यस्य खाते जलाशये । गावः पिबन्ति सलिलं साधवश्च नराः सदा ॥

sa kulaṃ tārayetsarvaṃ yasya khāte jalāśaye | gāvaḥ pibanti salilaṃ sādhavaśca narāḥ sadā

He saves his whole family in whose excavated reservoir cows and good men always drink water.

Verse 17 (13.93.17)

तटाके यस्य गावस्तु पिबन्ति तृषिता जलम् । मृगपक्षिमनुष्याश्च सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत ॥

taṭāke yasya gāvastu pibanti tṛṣitā jalam | mṛgapakṣimanuṣyāśca so'śvamedhaphalaṃ labheta

One in whose tank thirsty cows, deer, birds and men drink water gains the fruit of the horse sacrifice.

Verse 18 (13.93.18)

यत्पिबन्ति जलं तत्र स्नायन्ते विश्रमन्ति च । तटाके यस्य तत्सर्वं प्रेत्यानन्त्याय कल्पते ॥

yatpibanti jalaṃ tatra snāyante viśramanti ca | taṭāke yasya tatsarvaṃ pretyānantyāya kalpate

All the water that is drunk there, and all the bathing and resting that goes on there, becomes for the owner of that tank a source of endless merit in the next world.

Verse 19 (13.93.19)

दुर्लभं सलिलं तात विशेषेण परत्र वै । पानीयस्य प्रदानेन प्रीतिर्भवति शाश्वती ॥

durlabhaṃ salilaṃ tāta viśeṣeṇa paratra vai | pānīyasya pradānena prītirbhavati śāśvatī

Water is hard to find, my dear, especially in the other world; by giving water lasting joy is won.

Verse 20 (13.93.20)

तिलान्ददत पानीयं दीपान्ददत जागृत । ज्ञातिभिः सह मोदध्वमेतत्प्रेत्य सुदुर्लभम् ॥

tilāndadata pānīyaṃ dīpāndadata jāgṛta | jñātibhiḥ saha modadhvametatpretya sudurlabham

Give sesame and water, give lamps, and stay watchful; rejoice together with your kinsmen, for this is very hard to find after death.

Verse 21 (13.93.21)

सर्वदानैर्गुरुतरं सर्वदानैर्विशिष्यते । पानीयं नरशार्दूल तस्माद्दातव्यमेव हि ॥

sarvadānairgurutaraṃ sarvadānairviśiṣyate | pānīyaṃ naraśārdūla tasmāddātavyameva hi

Water is weightier than all gifts and surpasses all gifts, O tiger among men; therefore it should surely be given.

Verse 22 (13.93.22)

एवमेतत्तटाकस्य कीर्तितं फलमुत्तमम् । अत ऊर्ध्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि वृक्षाणामवरोपणम् ॥

evametattaṭākasya kīrtitaṃ phalamuttamam | ata ūrdhvaṃ pravakṣyāmi vṛkṣāṇāmavaropaṇam

Thus the supreme fruit of tanks has been told. Next I shall speak about the planting of trees.

Verse 23 (13.93.23)

स्थावराणां च भूतानां जातयः षट् प्रकीर्तिताः । वृक्षगुल्मलतावल्ल्यस्त्वक्सारास्तृणजातयः ॥

sthāvarāṇāṃ ca bhūtānāṃ jātayaḥ ṣaṭ prakīrtitāḥ | vṛkṣagulmalatāvallyastvaksārāstṛṇajātayaḥ

Six classes of immovable beings are declared: trees, shrubs, creepers, climbing plants, bark-plants and grasses.

Verse 24 (13.93.24)

एता जात्यस्तु वृक्षाणां तेषां रोपे गुणास्त्विमे । कीर्तिश्च मानुषे लोके प्रेत्य चैव फलं शुभम् ॥

etā jātyastu vṛkṣāṇāṃ teṣāṃ rope guṇāstvime | kīrtiśca mānuṣe loke pretya caiva phalaṃ śubham

These are the classes of trees; these are the merits of planting them: fame in the human world and a good reward after death.

Verse 25 (13.93.25)

लभते नाम लोके च पितृभिश्च महीयते । देवलोके गतस्यापि नाम तस्य न नश्यति ॥

labhate nāma loke ca pitṛbhiśca mahīyate | devaloke gatasyāpi nāma tasya na naśyati

He gains renown in the world and is honoured by the ancestors; even when he has gone to the world of the gods, his name does not perish.

Verse 26 (13.93.26)

अतीतानागते चोभे पितृवंशं च भारत । तारयेद्वृक्षरोपी च तस्माद्वृक्षांश्च रोपयेत् ॥

atītānāgate cobhe pitṛvaṃśaṃ ca bhārata | tārayedvṛkṣaropī ca tasmādvṛkṣāṃśca ropayet

A planter of trees saves his past and future generations and the line of his ancestors, O Bharata; therefore one should plant trees.

Verse 27 (13.93.27)

तस्य पुत्रा भवन्त्येते पादपा नात्र संशयः । परलोकगतः स्वर्गं लोकांश्चाप्नोति सोऽव्ययान् ॥

tasya putrā bhavantyete pādapā nātra saṃśayaḥ | paralokagataḥ svargaṃ lokāṃścāpnoti so'vyayān

These trees become his sons, there is no doubt; having gone to the other world he attains heaven and the imperishable worlds.

Verse 28 (13.93.28)

पुष्पैः सुरगणान्वृक्षाः फलैश्चापि तथा पितॄन् । छायया चातिथिं तात पूजयन्ति महीरुहाः ॥

puṣpaiḥ suragaṇānvṛkṣāḥ phalaiścāpi tathā pitṝn | chāyayā cātithiṃ tāta pūjayanti mahīruhāḥ

Trees honour the hosts of gods with flowers, the ancestors with fruit, and the guest with shade, my dear.

Note on the text: Corrected पुष्णैः → पुष्पैः (misprint in Wikisource; ष्ण for ष्प; CE puṣpaiḥ). Corrected धायया → छायया (misprint in Wikisource; ध for छ; CE chāyayā). Corrected महीरुहः → महीरुहाः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ā-mātrā, plural subject; CE mahīruhāḥ).

Verse 29 (13.93.29)

किन्नरोरगरक्षांसि देवगन्धर्वमानवाः । तथा ऋषिगणाश्चैव संश्रयन्ति महीरुहान् ॥

kinnaroragarakṣāṃsi devagandharvamānavāḥ | tathā ṛṣigaṇāścaiva saṃśrayanti mahīruhān

Kinnaras, serpents, rakshasas, gods, gandharvas, men and hosts of sages all take refuge in trees.

Verse 30 (13.93.30)

पुष्पिताः फलवन्तश्च तर्पयन्तीह मानवान् । वृक्षदं पुत्रवद्वृक्षास्तारयन्ति परत्र तु ॥

puṣpitāḥ phalavantaśca tarpayantīha mānavān | vṛkṣadaṃ putravadvṛkṣāstārayanti paratra tu

In flower and in fruit they delight men here; like sons, trees save the giver of trees in the next world.

Verse 31 (13.93.31)

तस्मात्तटाके सद्वृक्षा रोप्याः श्रेयोर्थिना सदा । पुत्रवत्परिपाल्याश्च पुत्रास्ते धर्मतः स्मृताः ॥

tasmāttaṭāke sadvṛkṣā ropyāḥ śreyorthinā sadā | putravatparipālyāśca putrāste dharmataḥ smṛtāḥ

Therefore good trees should always be planted by a tank by one who seeks his welfare, and they should be tended like sons; they are held to be one's sons by dharma.

Verse 32 (13.93.32)

तटाककृद्वृक्षरोपी इष्टयज्ञश्च यो द्विजः । एते स्वर्गे महीयन्ते ये चान्ये सत्यवादिनः ॥

taṭākakṛdvṛkṣaropī iṣṭayajñaśca yo dvijaḥ | ete svarge mahīyante ye cānye satyavādinaḥ

The maker of a tank, the planter of trees, and the twice-born who has performed sacrifices are honoured in heaven, and so are others who speak the truth.

Verse 33 (13.93.33)

तस्मात्तटाकं कुर्वीत आरामांश्चैव रोपयेत् । यजेच्च विविधैर्यज्ञैः सत्यं च सततं वदेत् ॥

tasmāttaṭākaṃ kurvīta ārāmāṃścaiva ropayet | yajecca vividhairyajñaiḥ satyaṃ ca satataṃ vadet

Therefore one should make a tank and plant groves, perform sacrifices of many kinds, and always speak the truth.