The Glory of Tanks and Wells

Verse 1 (padma.1.57.1)

द्विजा ऊचुः- कीर्तिर्धर्मोथ लोकेषु सर्वाणि प्रवराणि च। वद नो मुनिशार्दूल यदि नोऽस्ति त्वनुग्रहः

dvijā ūcuḥ- kīrtirdharmotha lokeṣu sarvāṇi pravarāṇi ca vada no muniśārdūla yadi no'sti tvanugrahaḥ

The brahmins said: Fame, and dharma, and all excellent things in the worlds — tell us of these, O tiger among sages, if you have grace for us.

Verse 2 (padma.1.57.2)

व्यास उवाच- यस्य खाते वने गावस्तृप्यंति मासमेव च। यद्वा सप्तदिनात्पूतः सर्वदेवैः स पूजितः

vyāsa uvāca- yasya khāte vane gāvastṛpyaṁti māsameva ca yadvā saptadinātpūtaḥ sarvadevaiḥ sa pūjitaḥ

Vyasa said: He at whose forest tank cows are satisfied even for a month, or he who is purified within seven days of making one, is honored by all the gods.

Verse 3 (padma.1.57.3)

पुष्करिण्या विशेषेण पूता या यज्ञकर्मणा। यत्फलं जलदानेन सर्वमत्रास्यि तच्छृणु

puṣkariṇyā viśeṣeṇa pūtā yā yajñakarmaṇā yatphalaṁ jaladānena sarvamatrāsyi tacchṛṇu

Of the pond specially purified by sacrificial rites, and of the merit that comes from the gift of water — hear all of it here.

Verse 4 (padma.1.57.4)

हायने हायने चैव कल्पं कल्पं विधीयते। दानात्स्वर्गमवाप्नोति तोयदः सर्वदो भुवि

hāyane hāyane caiva kalpaṁ kalpaṁ vidhīyate dānātsvargamavāpnoti toyadaḥ sarvado bhuvi

Year after year, kalpa after kalpa, it is so ordained: through this gift the giver of water attains heaven — he is the giver of all things upon earth.

Verse 5 (padma.1.57.5)

मेघे वर्षति खाते च जायंते ये तु शीकराः। तावद्वर्षसहस्राणि दिवमश्नाति मानवः

meghe varṣati khāte ca jāyaṁte ye tu śīkarāḥ tāvadvarṣasahasrāṇi divamaśnāti mānavaḥ

As many droplets as form in his tank when the cloud rains upon it, for that many thousands of years does the man enjoy heaven.

Verse 6 (padma.1.57.6)

तोयैरन्नादिपाकैश्च प्रसन्नो मानवो भवेत्। प्राणानां च विनान्नैश्च धारणन्नैव जायते

toyairannādipākaiśca prasanno mānavo bhavet prāṇānāṁ ca vinānnaiśca dhāraṇannaiva jāyate

By water, and by food and its cooking, a man becomes content; without food, indeed, the sustaining of the life-breaths does not occur.

Verse 7 (padma.1.57.7)

पितॄणां तर्पणं शौचं रूपं वै गंध्यनाशनम्। बीजं त्विहार्जितं सर्वं सर्वं तोये प्रतिष्ठितम्

pitṝṇāṁ tarpaṇaṁ śaucaṁ rūpaṁ vai gaṁdhyanāśanam bījaṁ tvihārjitaṁ sarvaṁ sarvaṁ toye pratiṣṭhitam

The offering to ancestors, purification, beauty, and the removal of odor — the very seed of life obtained in this world — all of it rests upon water.

Verse 8 (padma.1.57.8)

वस्त्रस्य धावनं रुच्यं भाजनानां तथैव च। तेनैव सर्वकार्यं च पानीयं मेध्यमेव च

vastrasya dhāvanaṁ rucyaṁ bhājanānāṁ tathaiva ca tenaiva sarvakāryaṁ ca pānīyaṁ medhyameva ca

The washing of clothes, and likewise the pleasant cleansing of vessels — by it all tasks are accomplished, and water itself is the purest of things to drink.

Verse 9 (padma.1.57.9)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन वापीकूपतटाककम्। कारयेच्च बलैः सर्वैस्तथा सर्वधनेन च

tasmātsarvaprayatnena vāpīkūpataṭākakam kārayecca balaiḥ sarvaistathā sarvadhanena ca

Therefore, with every effort, a man should have a stepped well, a well, or a tank constructed, with all his strength and with all his wealth.

Verse 10 (padma.1.57.10)

ततो विनिर्जले देशो यो ददाति जलाशयम्। वासरे वासरे तस्य कल्पं स्वर्गं विनिर्दिशेत्

tato vinirjale deśo yo dadāti jalāśayam vāsare vāsare tasya kalpaṁ svargaṁ vinirdiśet

One who, in a waterless land, provides a reservoir of water — for that man, day after day, a kalpa's stay in heaven is decreed.

Verse 11 (padma.1.57.11)

त्रिविष्टपाच्च्युतो विप्रो वेदशास्त्रार्थपारगः। लोकबंधुः स धर्मात्मा तपस्तप्त्वा दिवं व्रजेत्

triviṣṭapāccyuto vipro vedaśāstrārthapāragaḥ lokabaṁdhuḥ sa dharmātmā tapastaptvā divaṁ vrajet

A brahmin fallen from heaven, one who has mastered the meaning of the Vedas and Shastras, a friend to the world, righteous of soul — having performed austerities, he goes to heaven through this merit.

Verse 12 (padma.1.57.12)

एवं जन्माष्टकं प्राप्य एकस्याक्षयमिष्यते। क्षत्त्रियाणां कुले जातः सार्वभौमो भवेन्नृपः

evaṁ janmāṣṭakaṁ prāpya ekasyākṣayamiṣyate kṣattriyāṇāṁ kule jātaḥ sārvabhaumo bhavennṛpaḥ

Thus, having obtained eight such births, imperishable merit for one is declared. Born in the family of kshatriyas, he becomes a universal sovereign king.

Verse 13 (padma.1.57.13)

विशोऽक्षयं धनं विद्याज्जन्मजन्मसु यत्प्रियम्। शूद्रादयोन्त्यजाश्चान्ये लभंते स्वर्गतिं मुहुः

viśo'kṣayaṁ dhanaṁ vidyājjanmajanmasu yatpriyam śūdrādayontyajāścānye labhaṁte svargatiṁ muhuḥ

A vaishya obtains imperishable wealth, dear to him in birth after birth. Shudras and other outcastes too repeatedly attain to heaven.

Verse 14 (padma.1.57.14)

चतुर्हस्तप्रमाणं तु कूपं खनति यः पुमान्। परोपकारकं नित्यं कल्पं स्वर्गं तु हायने

caturhastapramāṇaṁ tu kūpaṁ khanati yaḥ pumān paropakārakaṁ nityaṁ kalpaṁ svargaṁ tu hāyane

That man who digs a well four hastas in measure, ever beneficial to others, attains a kalpa's heaven for each year it serves.

Verse 15 (padma.1.57.15)

द्विगुणे द्विगुणं विद्याच्छतं चैव चतुर्गुणे। विंशत्किष्कुप्रमाणां तु दद्यात्पुष्करिणीं तु यः

dviguṇe dviguṇaṁ vidyācchataṁ caiva caturguṇe viṁśatkiṣkupramāṇāṁ tu dadyātpuṣkariṇīṁ tu yaḥ

At double the size, know double the merit; and at fourfold the size, a hundredfold. And whoever provides a pond twenty kishkus in measure—

Verse 16 (padma.1.57.16)

विष्णोर्धाम लभेत्सोपि दिव्यभोगं तथैव च। अनंतरं नृपो जातो धनी वागीश्वरो भवेत्

viṣṇordhāma labhetsopi divyabhogaṁ tathaiva ca anaṁtaraṁ nṛpo jāto dhanī vāgīśvaro bhavet

—he too attains the abode of Vishnu, and heavenly enjoyment as well; and thereafter, born a king, he becomes wealthy, a lord of eloquence.

Verse 17 (padma.1.57.17)

एवं द्विस्त्रिश्चतुर्वापि गुणतो भोग्यमिष्यते। विस्तीर्णे प्रचुरं विद्धि सहस्रेणाच्युतो दिवः

evaṁ dvistriścaturvāpi guṇato bhogyamiṣyate vistīrṇe pracuraṁ viddhi sahasreṇācyuto divaḥ

Thus at two, three, or fourfold the size, the enjoyment of merit is proportionally ordained. Know that at great extent it is abundant; at a thousand, he becomes imperishable in heaven.

Verse 18 (padma.1.57.18)

सहस्राद्द्विगुणेनैव सुरपूज्यो भवेन्नरः। जंतवस्तत्र ये संति यावंतो जीवनं ययुः

sahasrāddviguṇenaiva surapūjyo bhavennaraḥ jaṁtavastatra ye saṁti yāvaṁto jīvanaṁ yayuḥ

At double a thousand, a man becomes worshipped even by the gods. Whatever creatures there are in that reservoir, as many as sustain their life by it—

Verse 19 (padma.1.57.19)

तत्संख्याका जनास्तस्य किंकराः पृष्टलग्नकाः। भवंति सततं गेहे पुरे जनपदेषु च

tatsaṁkhyākā janāstasya kiṁkarāḥ pṛṣṭalagnakāḥ bhavaṁti satataṁ gehe pure janapadeṣu ca

—that many people become his servants, ever attending close behind him, in his house, in the city, and throughout the realm.

Verse 20 (padma.1.57.20)

विहाय पितरं भोग्या धने क्षीणे यथा वनम्। पक्षिणस्सूकरश्चैव महिषी करिणी तथा

vihāya pitaraṁ bhogyā dhane kṣīṇe yathā vanam pakṣiṇassūkaraścaiva mahiṣī kariṇī tathā

As, when wealth is exhausted, creatures leave the father-reservoir for the forest as their sustenance — birds, the boar, the female buffalo, the female elephant likewise—

Verse 21 (padma.1.57.21)

उपदेष्टा च कर्त्ता च षडेते स्वर्गगामिनः। दिव्यं च पक्षिणां चैव शतं स्वर्गं विनिर्दिशेत्

upadeṣṭā ca karttā ca ṣaḍete svargagāminaḥ divyaṁ ca pakṣiṇāṁ caiva śataṁ svargaṁ vinirdiśet

—together with the advisor and the doer — these six go to heaven. For birds, a hundred divine years of heaven is decreed.

Verse 22 (padma.1.57.22)

क्रोडो वर्षसहस्रं तु महिष्ययुतहायनम्। देवरूपं समास्थाय करिण्या लक्षमुच्यते

kroḍo varṣasahasraṁ tu mahiṣyayutahāyanam devarūpaṁ samāsthāya kariṇyā lakṣamucyate

For the boar, a thousand years; for the buffalo, ten thousand years, taking on divine form; for the female elephant, a hundred thousand is declared.

Verse 23 (padma.1.57.23)

कोट्येकमुपदेष्टुश्च कर्तुरक्षयमेव च। पुरा धनिसुतेनैव कृतः ख्यातो जलाशयः

koṭyekamupadeṣṭuśca karturakṣayameva ca purā dhanisutenaiva kṛtaḥ khyāto jalāśayaḥ

For the advisor, ten million years; and for the doer, imperishable merit indeed. Long ago, the son of a wealthy man made a famous reservoir—

Verse 24 (padma.1.57.24)

अयुतधनव्ययेनैव प्राणेनैव बलेन च। सर्वसत्वोपकाराय शिवश्रद्धायुतेन च

ayutadhanavyayenaiva prāṇenaiva balena ca sarvasatvopakārāya śivaśraddhāyutena ca

—by the expenditure of ten thousand coins of wealth, by his very life and strength, for the benefit of all beings, joined with faith in Shiva.

Verse 25 (padma.1.57.25)

कालेन कियता चापि क्षीणवित्तोऽभवत्किल। कश्चिदर्थी धनी तस्य मूल्यदानाय चोद्यतः

kālena kiyatā cāpi kṣīṇavitto'bhavatkila kaścidarthī dhanī tasya mūlyadānāya codyataḥ

After some time he became impoverished. Some wealthy man in need then offered to pay him its price—

Verse 26 (padma.1.57.26)

विमृश्य धनिना चोक्तं व्याहारं शृणुताधुना। दीनारस्यायुतं वा ते दास्याम्यस्याश्च कारणात्

vimṛśya dhaninā coktaṁ vyāhāraṁ śṛṇutādhunā dīnārasyāyutaṁ vā te dāsyāmyasyāśca kāraṇāt

Having considered, the rich man spoke this proposal — 'now hear it: I shall give you ten thousand dinars for the sake of this reservoir—'

Verse 27 (padma.1.57.27)

लब्धं ते पुष्करिण्याश्च पुण्यं लाभात्प्रमन्यसे। शक्त्या दत्वाथ मूल्यं तां स्वीयां कर्तुं व्यवस्थितः

labdhaṁ te puṣkariṇyāśca puṇyaṁ lābhātpramanyase śaktyā datvātha mūlyaṁ tāṁ svīyāṁ kartuṁ vyavasthitaḥ

'—and you shall consider that you have gained the merit of the pond through this profit.' Thus, having offered payment to the best of his ability, he resolved to make it his own.

Verse 28 (padma.1.57.28)

एवमुक्ते स तं प्राह वासरेप्ययुतं पुनः। फलं भवति वै नित्यं पुण्यं पुण्यविदो विदुः

evamukte sa taṁ prāha vāsarepyayutaṁ punaḥ phalaṁ bhavati vai nityaṁ puṇyaṁ puṇyavido viduḥ

When this was said, he replied: 'Even day by day the merit is renewed, ten thousandfold; those who know merit know this to be an ever-lasting fruit.'

Verse 29 (padma.1.57.29)

एतस्मिन्निर्जले देशे शिवं खातं कृतं च मे। स्नानपानादिकं कर्म सर्वे कुर्वंत्यभीष्टतः

etasminnirjale deśe śivaṁ khātaṁ kṛtaṁ ca me snānapānādikaṁ karma sarve kurvaṁtyabhīṣṭataḥ

'In this waterless land, I made this auspicious reservoir; all people perform bathing, drinking and the like here, according to their wish.'

Verse 30 (padma.1.57.30)

तस्मान्मेप्ययुतार्थस्य नैत्यकं फलमिष्यते। ततस्तस्याभवद्धास्यं तथैव च सभासदाम्

tasmānmepyayutārthasya naityakaṁ phalamiṣyate tatastasyābhavaddhāsyaṁ tathaiva ca sabhāsadām

'—therefore, merit equal to ten thousand is ordained for me daily.' At this, laughter arose from him and likewise from the members of the assembly.

Verse 31 (padma.1.57.31)

ह्रिया च पीडितः सोपि वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह। सत्यमेतद्वचोस्माकं परीक्षां कुरु धर्मतः

hriyā ca pīḍitaḥ sopi vākyametaduvāca ha satyametadvacosmākaṁ parīkṣāṁ kuru dharmataḥ

Stung by shame, he too spoke these words: 'This is indeed true, what we say; test it by rightful means.'

Verse 32 (padma.1.57.32)

मत्सरात्स तु तं प्राह शृणु मे वचनं पितः। दीनारायुत मे तत्ते दत्वा चानीय प्रस्तरम्

matsarātsa tu taṁ prāha śṛṇu me vacanaṁ pitaḥ dīnārāyuta me tatte datvā cānīya prastaram

Out of envy the rich man then said to him: 'Hear my proposal, good sir. Having given you those ten thousand dinars, and having brought a stone—'

Verse 33 (padma.1.57.33)

पातयिष्यामि ते खाते यथायोगं प्रमज्जतु। उन्मज्जति च यत्काले प्रस्तरः संतरत्यपि

pātayiṣyāmi te khāte yathāyogaṁ pramajjatu unmajjati ca yatkāle prastaraḥ saṁtaratyapi

'—I shall throw it into your tank; let it sink as is proper. And if, at some time, the stone rises up and even floats—'

Verse 34 (padma.1.57.34)

क्षयं यास्यति नो वित्तं नोचेन्मे धर्मतो हि सा। बाढमुक्त्वायुतं तस्य गृहीत्वा स्वगृहं गतः

kṣayaṁ yāsyati no vittaṁ nocenme dharmato hi sā bāḍhamuktvāyutaṁ tasya gṛhītvā svagṛhaṁ gataḥ

'—then my wealth shall not be lost; otherwise it becomes yours by right.' The other, agreeing, took the ten thousand and went to his own house.

Verse 35 (padma.1.57.35)

साक्षिणामग्रतस्तेन प्रस्तरः पातितस्तथा। पुष्करिण्यां महत्यां च दृष्टं नरसुरासुरैः

sākṣiṇāmagratastena prastaraḥ pātitastathā puṣkariṇyāṁ mahatyāṁ ca dṛṣṭaṁ narasurāsuraiḥ

Before the witnesses he then threw the stone; and it was seen, in that great pond, by men, gods and demons.

Verse 36 (padma.1.57.36)

ततो धर्मतुलायां तु तुलितं धर्मसाक्षिणा। दीनारायुतदानस्य पुष्करिण्या जलस्य तु

tato dharmatulāyāṁ tu tulitaṁ dharmasākṣiṇā dīnārāyutadānasya puṣkariṇyā jalasya tu

Then, on the scale of dharma, weighed by the witness of dharma, the gift of ten thousand dinars against the merit of the pond's water—

Verse 37 (padma.1.57.37)

न समं तु दिनैकं तु जलस्य धर्मतो भृशम्। धनिनो मानसं दुःखं मोघार्थं च परेऽहनि

na samaṁ tu dinaikaṁ tu jalasya dharmato bhṛśam dhanino mānasaṁ duḥkhaṁ moghārthaṁ ca pare'hani

—was found by no means equal, so much greater by rightful measure was even a single day's worth of that water. The rich man's mind grew heavy with grief at his wasted wealth — and on the next day—

Verse 38 (padma.1.57.38)

शिलोच्चयोऽभवत्तीर्णो द्वीपवच्च जलोपरि। ततः कोलाहलः शब्दो जनानां समुपस्थितः

śiloccayo'bhavattīrṇo dvīpavacca jalopari tataḥ kolāhalaḥ śabdo janānāṁ samupasthitaḥ

—that heap of stone rose to the surface, floating upon the water like an island. Then a great clamor of voices arose among the people.

Verse 39 (padma.1.57.39)

तच्छ्रुत्वाद्भुतवाक्यं च मुदा तौ चागतौ ततः। दृष्ट्वा शैलं तथाभूतं कृतं तेनायुतं तथा

tacchrutvādbhutavākyaṁ ca mudā tau cāgatau tataḥ dṛṣṭvā śailaṁ tathābhūtaṁ kṛtaṁ tenāyutaṁ tathā

Hearing that wondrous report, the two of them came there in eager haste. Seeing the stone-mass thus floating, he gave up his claim to the ten thousand as well.

Verse 40 (padma.1.57.40)

ततः खाताधिपेनैव शैलं दूरे निपातितम्। पुण्यं खातस्य चोत्खाते प्रलुप्तस्य सुतेन हि

tataḥ khātādhipenaiva śailaṁ dūre nipātitam puṇyaṁ khātasya cotkhāte praluptasya sutena hi

Then the lord of the reservoir himself had that stone-mass cast far away. And thus the merit of the reservoir, dug once more by the son of him who had lost it—

Verse 41 (padma.1.57.41)

सोपि नाकं समारुह्य जन्मजन्मसु निर्वृतः। गोत्रमातृगणानां च नृपाणां सुहृदां तथा

sopi nākaṁ samāruhya janmajanmasu nirvṛtaḥ gotramātṛgaṇānāṁ ca nṛpāṇāṁ suhṛdāṁ tathā

—he too, ascending to heaven, found bliss birth after birth; and for the clan, for the mothers, for kings, and for friends likewise—

Verse 42 (padma.1.57.42)

सखीनां चोपकर्तॄणां खातं खात्वाऽक्षयं फलम्। तपस्विनामनाथानां ब्राह्मणानां विशेषतः

sakhīnāṁ copakartṝṇāṁ khātaṁ khātvā'kṣayaṁ phalam tapasvināmanāthānāṁ brāhmaṇānāṁ viśeṣataḥ

—and for companions and benefactors, digging a reservoir yields imperishable merit; especially for ascetics, for the helpless, and for brahmins—

Verse 43 (padma.1.57.43)

खातं तु जनयित्वा तु स्वर्गं चाक्षयमश्नुते। तस्मात्खातादिकं विप्राः शक्तितो यः करिष्यति

khātaṁ tu janayitvā tu svargaṁ cākṣayamaśnute tasmātkhātādikaṁ viprāḥ śaktito yaḥ kariṣyati

—having caused a reservoir to be made, one attains imperishable heaven. Therefore, O brahmins, whoever, according to his ability, makes such reservoirs and the like—

Verse 44 (padma.1.57.44)

सर्वपापक्षयात्पुण्यं मोक्षं यायान्न संशयः। य इदं श्रावयेल्लोके धर्माख्यानं महोत्कटम्

sarvapāpakṣayātpuṇyaṁ mokṣaṁ yāyānna saṁśayaḥ ya idaṁ śrāvayelloke dharmākhyānaṁ mahotkaṭam

—through the destruction of all his sins and the accrual of merit, attains liberation, without doubt. And whoever causes this most excellent tale of dharma to be heard in the world—

Verse 45 (padma.1.57.45)

सर्वखातप्रदानस्य फलमश्नाति धार्मिकः। ग्रहणे भास्करस्यैव भागीरथ्यां तटे वरे

sarvakhātapradānasya phalamaśnāti dhārmikaḥ grahaṇe bhāskarasyaiva bhāgīrathyāṁ taṭe vare

—that righteous man enjoys the merit of the gift of every kind of reservoir — the same as that gained at a solar eclipse on the sacred bank of the Bhagirathi.

Verse 46 (padma.1.57.46)

गवां कोटिप्रदानस्य फलं श्रुत्वा लभेन्नरः। न च दारिद्रतामेति न शोकं व्याधिसंचयम् असंमानं महद्दुःखमुभयोर्नाधिगच्छति।

gavāṁ koṭipradānasya phalaṁ śrutvā labhennaraḥ na ca dāridratāmeti na śokaṁ vyādhisaṁcayam asaṁmānaṁ mahadduḥkhamubhayornādhigacchati

By hearing it a man obtains the merit of the gift of ten million cows. He falls neither into poverty nor grief, nor into the accumulation of disease; he encounters neither disrespect nor great sorrow, in this world or the next.