The Law of Karma and King Subahu's Question on Giving

Verse 1 (padma.2.94.1)

कुंजल उवाच- श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि तत्सर्वं कारणं सुत । यस्मात्तौ तादृशौ जातौ स्वमांसपरिभक्षकौ

kuṁjala uvāca- śrūyatāmabhidhāsyāmi tatsarvaṁ kāraṇaṁ suta yasmāttau tādṛśau jātau svamāṁsaparibhakṣakau

Kunjala said: "Listen, my son, I shall tell you the whole reason why those two became such eaters of their own flesh."

Verse 2 (padma.2.94.2)

सर्वत्र कारणं कर्म शुभाशुभं न संशयः । पुण्येन कर्मणा पुत्र नरः सौख्यं प्रभुंजति

sarvatra kāraṇaṁ karma śubhāśubhaṁ na saṁśayaḥ puṇyena karmaṇā putra naraḥ saukhyaṁ prabhuṁjati

"Everywhere the cause is karma, good or bad - there is no doubt. By meritorious karma, my son, a man enjoys happiness;"

Verse 3 (padma.2.94.3)

दुष्कृतं भुंजते चात्र पापयुक्तेन कर्मणा । सूक्ष्मवर्त्मविचार्यैवं शास्त्रज्ञानेन चक्षुषा

duṣkṛtaṁ bhuṁjate cātra pāpayuktena karmaṇā sūkṣmavartmavicāryaivaṁ śāstrajñānena cakṣuṣā

"- he suffers ill here through sinful karma. Having examined the subtle path with the eye of scriptural knowledge -"

Verse 4 (padma.2.94.4)

स्थूलधर्मं प्रदृष्ट्वैव सुविचार्य पुनः पुनः । समारभेन्नरः कर्म मनसा निपुणेन च

sthūladharmaṁ pradṛṣṭvaiva suvicārya punaḥ punaḥ samārabhennaraḥ karma manasā nipuṇena ca

"- and having seen the gross form of dharma, and considered it again and again, a man should undertake action with a discerning mind."

Verse 5 (padma.2.94.5)

समूर्तिकारकः शिल्पी रसमावर्त्तयेद्यथा । अग्नेश्च तेजसा पुत्र ज्वालाभिश्च समंततः

samūrtikārakaḥ śilpī rasamāvarttayedyathā agneśca tejasā putra jvālābhiśca samaṁtataḥ

"As a craftsman making an image causes metal to melt, my son, by the heat and flames of fire, on every side,"

Verse 6 (padma.2.94.6)

द्रवीभूतो भवेद्धातुर्वह्निना तापितः शनैः । यादृशं वत्स भक्ष्यंतु रसपक्वं निषेच्यते

dravībhūto bhaveddhāturvahninā tāpitaḥ śanaiḥ yādṛśaṁ vatsa bhakṣyaṁtu rasapakvaṁ niṣecyate

"- the metal, gradually heated by the fire, becomes liquefied; whatever mold that molten metal is poured into, my child -"

Verse 7 (padma.2.94.7)

तादृशं जायते वत्स रूपं चैव न संशयः । यादृशं क्रियते कर्म तादृशं परिभुज्यते

tādṛśaṁ jāyate vatsa rūpaṁ caiva na saṁśayaḥ yādṛśaṁ kriyate karma tādṛśaṁ paribhujyate

"- such a form results, my child, without doubt. Whatever deed is done, that same is what one must experience."

Verse 8 (padma.2.94.8)

कर्म एव प्रधानं यद्वर्षारूपेण वर्त्तते । क्षेत्रेषु यादृशं बीजं वपते कृषिकारकः

karma eva pradhānaṁ yadvarṣārūpeṇa varttate kṣetreṣu yādṛśaṁ bījaṁ vapate kṛṣikārakaḥ

"Karma alone is supreme, and it acts like the rain. Whatever seed a farmer sows in his fields -"

Verse 9 (padma.2.94.9)

तादृशं भुंजते तात फलमेव न संशयः । यादृशं क्रियते कर्म तादृशं परिभुज्यते

tādṛśaṁ bhuṁjate tāta phalameva na saṁśayaḥ yādṛśaṁ kriyate karma tādṛśaṁ paribhujyate

"- such fruit he reaps, father, without doubt. Whatever deed is done, that same is what one must experience."

Verse 10 (padma.2.94.10)

विनाशहेतुः कर्मास्य सर्वे कर्मवशा वयम् । कर्म दायादका लोके कर्म संबंधिबांधवाः

vināśahetuḥ karmāsya sarve karmavaśā vayam karma dāyādakā loke karma saṁbaṁdhibāṁdhavāḥ

"Karma alone is the cause of destruction; we are all subject to karma. Karma is one's inheritance in this world; karma is the very kinsman that binds one."

Verse 11 (padma.2.94.11)

कर्माणि चोदयंतीह पुरुषं सुखदुःखयोः । सुवर्णं रजतं वापि यथारूपं निषिच्यते

karmāṇi codayaṁtīha puruṣaṁ sukhaduḥkhayoḥ suvarṇaṁ rajataṁ vāpi yathārūpaṁ niṣicyate

"It is karma that impels a man toward happiness and sorrow here. Just as gold or silver is cast into whatever mold it is poured -"

Verse 12 (padma.2.94.12)

तथा निषिच्यते जंतुः पूर्वकर्मवशानुगः । पंचैतानीह दृश्यंते गर्भस्थस्यैव देहिनः

tathā niṣicyate jaṁtuḥ pūrvakarmavaśānugaḥ paṁcaitānīha dṛśyaṁte garbhasthasyaiva dehinaḥ

"- so is a creature cast, subject to the sway of its former karma. These five are seen here, ordained for the embodied being even in the womb -"

Verse 13 (padma.2.94.13)

आयुः कर्म च वित्तं च विद्यानि धनमेव च । यथा मृत्पिंडकं कर्त्ता कुरुते यद्यदिच्छति

āyuḥ karma ca vittaṁ ca vidyāni dhanameva ca yathā mṛtpiṁḍakaṁ karttā kurute yadyadicchati

"- lifespan, karma, wealth, learning, and money. Just as a potter, from a lump of clay, makes whatever he wishes -"

Verse 14 (padma.2.94.14)

तथा कर्मकृतं चैव कर्त्तारं प्रतिपद्यते । देवत्वमथ मानुष्यं पशुत्वं पक्षितां तथा

tathā karmakṛtaṁ caiva karttāraṁ pratipadyate devatvamatha mānuṣyaṁ paśutvaṁ pakṣitāṁ tathā

"- so does karma performed follow its own doer. Godhood, then humanity, animality, and likewise the state of a bird,"

Verse 15 (padma.2.94.15)

तिर्यक्त्वं स्थावरत्वं वा याति जंतुः स्वकर्मभिः । स एव तु तथा भुंक्ते नित्यं विहितमात्मनः

tiryaktvaṁ sthāvaratvaṁ vā yāti jaṁtuḥ svakarmabhiḥ sa eva tu tathā bhuṁkte nityaṁ vihitamātmanaḥ

"- or the state of a beast or an unmoving thing - a creature attains through its own karma. That same self ever enjoys what is ordained by itself;"

Verse 16 (padma.2.94.16)

आत्मना विहितं दुःखमात्मना विहितं सुखम् । गर्भशय्यामुपादाय भुंजते पूर्वदेहिकम्

ātmanā vihitaṁ duḥkhamātmanā vihitaṁ sukham garbhaśayyāmupādāya bhuṁjate pūrvadehikam

"- sorrow is ordained by the self, and happiness too is ordained by the self. Taking up residence in the womb, beings enjoy the deeds of their previous body."

Verse 17 (padma.2.94.17)

पूर्वदेहकृतं कर्म न कश्चित्पुरुषोत्तमः । बलेन प्रज्ञया वापि समर्थः कर्तुमन्यथा

pūrvadehakṛtaṁ karma na kaścitpuruṣottamaḥ balena prajñayā vāpi samarthaḥ kartumanyathā

"No man, however excellent, whether by strength or by wisdom, is capable of undoing karma performed in a previous body."

Verse 18 (padma.2.94.18)

स्वकृतान्येव भुंजंति दुःखानि च सुखानि च । हेतुतः कारणैर्वापि सोहं कारेण बाध्यते

svakṛtānyeva bhuṁjaṁti duḥkhāni ca sukhāni ca hetutaḥ kāraṇairvāpi sohaṁ kāreṇa bādhyate

"They enjoy only their own deeds, their sorrows and their joys. Whether through cause or through condition, that self is bound by its own karma."

Verse 19 (padma.2.94.19)

यथा धेनुसहस्रेषु वत्सो विंदति मातरम् । तद्वच्छुभाशुभं कर्म कर्तारमनुगच्छति

yathā dhenusahasreṣu vatso viṁdati mātaram tadvacchubhāśubhaṁ karma kartāramanugacchati

"Just as a calf finds its own mother among a thousand cows, so does good or ill karma follow its doer."

Verse 20 (padma.2.94.20)

उपभोगादृते यस्य नाश एव न विद्यते । प्राक्तनं बंधनं कर्म कोन्यथाकर्तुमर्हति

upabhogādṛte yasya nāśa eva na vidyate prāktanaṁ baṁdhanaṁ karma konyathākartumarhati

"Except through experiencing it, there is never any destruction of it. Who else is capable of undoing a bond of karma fashioned in a former life?"

Verse 21 (padma.2.94.21)

सुशीघ्रमनुधावंतं विधानमनुधावति । शोभते संनिपातेन यथाकर्म पुराकृतम्

suśīghramanudhāvaṁtaṁ vidhānamanudhāvati śobhate saṁnipātena yathākarma purākṛtam

"Destiny pursues even one running with the greatest speed. Karma done before manifests itself through such a union -"

Verse 22 (padma.2.94.22)

उपतिष्ठति तिष्ठंतं गच्छं तमनुगच्छति । करोति कुर्वतः कर्मच्छायेवानु विधीयते

upatiṣṭhati tiṣṭhaṁtaṁ gacchaṁ tamanugacchati karoti kurvataḥ karmacchāyevānu vidhīyate

"- it stands by him who stands, follows him who walks. It acts with him who acts, following after like a shadow."

Verse 23 (padma.2.94.23)

यथा छायातपौ नित्यं सुसंबद्धौ परस्परम् । उपसर्गा हि विषया उपसर्गा जरादयः

yathā chāyātapau nityaṁ susaṁbaddhau parasparam upasargā hi viṣayā upasargā jarādayaḥ

"Just as shadow and sunlight are ever bound together, so are the afflictions arising from sense-objects, and afflictions such as old age -"

Verse 24 (padma.2.94.24)

पीडयंति नरं पश्चात्पीडितं पूर्वकर्मणा । येन यत्रोपभोक्तव्यं दुःखं वा सुखमेव च

pīḍayaṁti naraṁ paścātpīḍitaṁ pūrvakarmaṇā yena yatropabhoktavyaṁ duḥkhaṁ vā sukhameva ca

"- afflict, afterward, a man already afflicted by his former karma. Wherever anyone must experience happiness or sorrow -"

Verse 25 (padma.2.94.25)

स तत्र बद्ध्वा रज्ज्वेव बलाद्दैवेन नीयते । दैवं प्राहुश्च भूतानां सुखदुःखोपपादनम्

sa tatra baddhvā rajjveva balāddaivena nīyate daivaṁ prāhuśca bhūtānāṁ sukhaduḥkhopapādanam

"- he is bound there, as if with a rope, and led there forcibly by fate. They say that fate governs the ordaining of happiness and sorrow for beings."

Verse 26 (padma.2.94.26)

अन्यथा कर्मतच्चिंत्यं जाग्रतः स्वपतोपि वा । अन्यथा ह्युद्यते दैवं बध्यते च जिघांसति

anyathā karmatacciṁtyaṁ jāgrataḥ svapatopi vā anyathā hyudyate daivaṁ badhyate ca jighāṁsati

"Karma is contemplated one way whether one is awake or asleep; fate then rises in a different way and seeks to strike."

Verse 27 (padma.2.94.27)

शस्त्राग्निविषदुर्गेभ्यो रक्षितव्यं सुरक्षति । यथा पृथिव्यां बीजानि वृक्षगुल्मतृणान्यपि

śastrāgniviṣadurgebhyo rakṣitavyaṁ surakṣati yathā pṛthivyāṁ bījāni vṛkṣagulmatṛṇānyapi

"What is meant to be protected from weapon, fire, poison, and danger, is well protected. Just as seeds, trees, shrubs, and grasses are protected in the earth -"

Verse 28 (padma.2.94.28)

तथैवात्मनि कर्माणि तिष्ठंति प्रभवंति च । तैलक्षयाद्यथा दीपो निर्वाणमधिगच्छति

tathaivātmani karmāṇi tiṣṭhaṁti prabhavaṁti ca tailakṣayādyathā dīpo nirvāṇamadhigacchati

"- so too do deeds remain within the self and come to fruition. Just as a lamp, when its oil is exhausted, comes to extinction -"

Verse 29 (padma.2.94.29)

कर्मक्षयात्तथा जंतोः शरीरं नाशमृच्छति । कर्मक्षयात्तथा मृत्युस्तत्त्वविद्भिरुदाहृतम्

karmakṣayāttathā jaṁtoḥ śarīraṁ nāśamṛcchati karmakṣayāttathā mṛtyustattvavidbhirudāhṛtam

"- so, from the exhaustion of karma, a creature's body meets destruction; thus, from the exhaustion of karma, death itself has been declared by those who know the truth."

Verse 30 (padma.2.94.30)

विविधाः प्राणिनां रोगाः स्मृतास्तेषां च हेतवः । तस्मात्तत्त्वप्रधानस्तु कर्म एव हि प्राणिनाम्

vividhāḥ prāṇināṁ rogāḥ smṛtāsteṣāṁ ca hetavaḥ tasmāttattvapradhānastu karma eva hi prāṇinām

"The various diseases of beings, and their causes, are so remembered; therefore, in truth, karma alone is supreme for living beings."

Verse 31 (padma.2.94.31)

यत्पुरा क्रियते कर्म तदिहैव प्रभुज्यते । यत्त्वया दृष्टमेवापि पृच्छितं तात सांप्रतम्

yatpurā kriyate karma tadihaiva prabhujyate yattvayā dṛṣṭamevāpi pṛcchitaṁ tāta sāṁpratam

"Whatever karma is done before, that same is experienced right here. What you saw, and what you have now asked me, my son -"

Verse 32 (padma.2.94.32)

तस्यार्थं तु मया प्रोक्तं भुंजाते तौ हि सांप्रतम् । आनंदे कानने दृष्टं तयोः कर्मसुदारुणम्

tasyārthaṁ tu mayā proktaṁ bhuṁjāte tau hi sāṁpratam ānaṁde kānane dṛṣṭaṁ tayoḥ karmasudāruṇam

"- its meaning I have declared; those two are now experiencing exactly this. What you saw in the Ananda forest was their own most terrible karma."

Verse 33 (padma.2.94.33)

तयोश्चेष्टां प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणु वत्स प्रभाषतः । कर्मभूमिरियं तात अन्या भोगार्थभूमयः

tayośceṣṭāṁ pravakṣyāmi śṛṇu vatsa prabhāṣataḥ karmabhūmiriyaṁ tāta anyā bhogārthabhūmayaḥ

"I shall tell you their story; listen, my child, as I relate it. This earth is the land of karma; other lands are for the purpose of enjoyment,"

Verse 34 (padma.2.94.34)

सर्गादीनां महाप्राज्ञ तासु गत्वा सुभुंजति । सूत उवाच- चौलदेशे महाप्राज्ञः सुबाहुर्नाम भूमिपः

sargādīnāṁ mahāprājña tāsu gatvā subhuṁjati sūta uvāca- cauladeśe mahāprājñaḥ subāhurnāma bhūmipaḥ

"- for the beings of creation, O greatly wise one; having gone there, they properly enjoy their fruits." Suta said: "In the land of Chola there was a greatly wise king named Subahu,"

Verse 35 (padma.2.94.35)

रूपवान्गुणवान्धीरः पृथिव्यां नास्ति तादृशः । विष्णुभक्तो महाप्राज्ञो वैष्णवानां च सुप्रियः

rūpavānguṇavāndhīraḥ pṛthivyāṁ nāsti tādṛśaḥ viṣṇubhakto mahāprājño vaiṣṇavānāṁ ca supriyaḥ

"- handsome, virtuous, resolute; there was none like him on earth; a devotee of Vishnu, greatly wise, exceedingly dear to Vaishnavas,"

Verse 36 (padma.2.94.36)

कर्मणा त्रिविधेनापि प्रध्यायन्मधुसूदनम् । अश्वमेधादिकान्यज्ञान्यजेत सकलान्नृप

karmaṇā trividhenāpi pradhyāyanmadhusūdanam aśvamedhādikānyajñānyajeta sakalānnṛpa

"- meditating on Madhusudana with mind, word, and deed, O king, he performed all the sacrifices, beginning with the Ashvamedha."

Verse 37 (padma.2.94.37)

पुरोधास्तस्य चैवास्ति जैमिनिर्नाम ब्राह्मणः । स चाहूय सुबाहुं तमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्

purodhāstasya caivāsti jaiminirnāma brāhmaṇaḥ sa cāhūya subāhuṁ tamidaṁ vacanamabravīt

"He had a family priest, a brahmin named Jaimini; he summoned Subahu and spoke this word -"

Verse 38 (padma.2.94.38)

राजन्देहि सुदानानि यैः सुखं तु प्रभुंज्यत । दानैस्तु तरते लोकान्दुर्गान्प्रेत्य गतो नरः

rājandehi sudānāni yaiḥ sukhaṁ tu prabhuṁjyata dānaistu tarate lokāndurgānpretya gato naraḥ

"'O king, give generous gifts, by which happiness may be enjoyed; through gifts a man crosses over the worlds, and, after death, passes beyond difficult places.'"

Verse 39 (padma.2.94.39)

दानेन सुखमाप्नोति यशः प्राप्नोति शाश्वतम् । दानेन चातुला कीर्तिर्जायते मृत्युमंडले

dānena sukhamāpnoti yaśaḥ prāpnoti śāśvatam dānena cātulā kīrtirjāyate mṛtyumaṁḍale

"'Through giving one obtains happiness, and attains eternal fame; through giving, incomparable renown arises in the realm of death.'"

Verse 40 (padma.2.94.40)

यावत्कीर्तिः स्थिता चात्र तावत्कर्ता दिवं वसेत् । तद्दानं दुष्करं प्राहुर्दातुं नैव प्रशक्यते

yāvatkīrtiḥ sthitā cātra tāvatkartā divaṁ vaset taddānaṁ duṣkaraṁ prāhurdātuṁ naiva praśakyate

"'As long as one's fame endures here, so long does the giver dwell in heaven. That giving is said to be difficult - indeed hard to accomplish.'"

Verse 41 (padma.2.94.41)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन दातव्यं मानवैः सदा । सुबाहुरुवाच- दानाच्च तपसो वापि द्वयोर्मध्ये सुदुष्करम्

tasmātsarvaprayatnena dātavyaṁ mānavaiḥ sadā subāhuruvāca- dānācca tapaso vāpi dvayormadhye suduṣkaram

"'Therefore men should always give with all their effort.'" Subahu said: "Of giving and of austerity, between the two, which is more difficult -"

Verse 42 (padma.2.94.42)

किं वा महत्फलं प्रेत्य तन्मे ब्रूहि द्विजोत्तम । जैमिनिरुवाच- दानान्न दुष्करतरं पृथिव्यामस्ति किंचन

kiṁ vā mahatphalaṁ pretya tanme brūhi dvijottama jaiminiruvāca- dānānna duṣkarataraṁ pṛthivyāmasti kiṁcana

"- or which bears the greater fruit hereafter? Tell me this, O best of the twice-born." Jaimini said: "There is nothing on earth more difficult than giving."

Verse 43 (padma.2.94.43)

राजन्प्रत्यक्षमेवैकं दृश्यते लोकसाक्षिकम् । परित्यज्य प्रियान्प्राणान्धनार्थं लोभमोहिताः

rājanpratyakṣamevaikaṁ dṛśyate lokasākṣikam parityajya priyānprāṇāndhanārthaṁ lobhamohitāḥ

"O king, one thing alone is seen directly, a witness before the world: abandoning their dear lives, deluded by greed for wealth,"

Verse 44 (padma.2.94.44)

प्रविशंति नरा लोके समुद्रमटवीं तथा । सेवामन्ये प्रपद्यंतेऽश्ववृत्तिरिति या स्थिता

praviśaṁti narā loke samudramaṭavīṁ tathā sevāmanye prapadyaṁte'śvavṛttiriti yā sthitā

"- men enter the ocean and the wilderness of the forest. Others take up service, that condition established as 'the life of a horse.'"

Verse 45 (padma.2.94.45)

हिंसाप्रायां बहुक्लेशां कृषिं चैव तथा पुरा । तस्य दुःखार्जितस्यापि प्राणेभ्योपि गरीयसः

hiṁsāprāyāṁ bahukleśāṁ kṛṣiṁ caiva tathā purā tasya duḥkhārjitasyāpi prāṇebhyopi garīyasaḥ

"- and likewise, formerly, agriculture, full of violence and much affliction. To give up wealth earned with such sorrow, dearer even than life itself -"

Verse 46 (padma.2.94.46)

अर्थस्य पुरुषव्याघ्र परित्यागः सुदुष्करः । विशेषतो महाराज तस्य न्यायार्जितस्य च

arthasya puruṣavyāghra parityāgaḥ suduṣkaraḥ viśeṣato mahārāja tasya nyāyārjitasya ca

"- O tiger among men, is exceedingly difficult, especially, great king, wealth earned by just means."

Verse 47 (padma.2.94.47)

श्रद्धया विधिवत्पात्रे दत्तस्यांतो न विद्यते । श्रद्धा धर्मसुता देवी पावनी विश्वतारिणी

śraddhayā vidhivatpātre dattasyāṁto na vidyate śraddhā dharmasutā devī pāvanī viśvatāriṇī

"There is no end to the fruit of what is given with faith, according to rite, to a worthy recipient. Faith is the daughter-goddess of Dharma, purifying, the deliverer of the universe,"

Verse 48 (padma.2.94.48)

सावित्री प्रसवित्री च संसारार्णवतारिणी । श्रद्धया साध्यते धर्मो महद्भिर्न्नार्थराशिभिः

sāvitrī prasavitrī ca saṁsārārṇavatāriṇī śraddhayā sādhyate dharmo mahadbhirnnārtharāśibhiḥ

"- Savitri, the giver of birth, who carries one across the ocean of the world. Dharma is accomplished through faith, not through great masses of wealth."

Verse 49 (padma.2.94.49)

निष्किंचनास्तु मुनयः श्रद्धाधर्मा दिवं गताः । संति दानान्यनेकानि नानाभेदैर्नृपोत्तम

niṣkiṁcanāstu munayaḥ śraddhādharmā divaṁ gatāḥ saṁti dānānyanekāni nānābhedairnṛpottama

"Sages who possessed nothing, whose only dharma was faith, have gone to heaven. There are many kinds of gifts, of various sorts, O best of kings,"

Verse 50 (padma.2.94.50)

अन्नदानात्परं नास्ति प्राणिनां गतिदायकम् । तस्मादन्नं प्रदातव्यं पयसा च समन्वितम्

annadānātparaṁ nāsti prāṇināṁ gatidāyakam tasmādannaṁ pradātavyaṁ payasā ca samanvitam

"- but there is nothing greater than the gift of food for granting beings the highest goal. Therefore food should be given, together with milk,"

Verse 51 (padma.2.94.51)

मधुरेणापि पुण्येन वचसा च समन्वितम् । नास्त्यन्नात्तु परं दानमिहलोके परत्र च

madhureṇāpi puṇyena vacasā ca samanvitam nāstyannāttu paraṁ dānamihaloke paratra ca

"- and with sweet, meritorious words too. There is no gift greater than food, in this world or the next,"

Verse 52 (padma.2.94.52)

तारणाय हितायैव सुखसंपत्तिहेतवे । श्रद्धया विधिवत्पात्रे निर्मलेनापि चेतसा

tāraṇāya hitāyaiva sukhasaṁpattihetave śraddhayā vidhivatpātre nirmalenāpi cetasā

"- for the sake of deliverance, for benefit, for the cause of happiness and prosperity - with faith, according to rite, to a worthy recipient, with a pure heart."

Verse 53 (padma.2.94.53)

अन्नैकस्य प्रदानस्य फलं भुंक्ते भवेन्नरः । ग्रासाद्ग्रासं प्रदातव्यं मुष्टिप्रस्थं न संशयः

annaikasya pradānasya phalaṁ bhuṁkte bhavennaraḥ grāsādgrāsaṁ pradātavyaṁ muṣṭiprasthaṁ na saṁśayaḥ

"A man enjoys the fruit of the gift of food alone. It should be given morsel by morsel, a handful, or a measure - there is no doubt -"

Verse 54 (padma.2.94.54)

अक्षयं जायते तस्य दानस्यापि महाफलम् । न च प्रस्थं न वा मुष्टिं नरस्य हि न संभवेत्

akṣayaṁ jāyate tasya dānasyāpi mahāphalam na ca prasthaṁ na vā muṣṭiṁ narasya hi na saṁbhavet

"- the great fruit of that gift becomes imperishable. It should not happen that a man has not even a handful or a measure to give -"

Verse 55 (padma.2.94.55)

अनास्तिक्यप्रभावेण पर्वणि प्राप्य मानवः । श्रद्धया ब्राह्मणं चैकं भक्त्या चैव प्रभोजयेत्

anāstikyaprabhāveṇa parvaṇi prāpya mānavaḥ śraddhayā brāhmaṇaṁ caikaṁ bhaktyā caiva prabhojayet

"- except through the influence of unbelief. Having obtained a sacred occasion, a man should, with faith and devotion, feed even a single brahmin."

Verse 56 (padma.2.94.56)

एकस्यापि प्रधानस्य अन्नस्यापि प्रजेश्वर । जन्मांतरं सुसंप्राप्य नित्यं चान्नं प्रभुंजति

ekasyāpi pradhānasya annasyāpi prajeśvara janmāṁtaraṁ susaṁprāpya nityaṁ cānnaṁ prabhuṁjati

"Even from the gift of a single, principal meal of food, O lord of subjects, having obtained a subsequent birth, that man enjoys food forever."

Verse 57 (padma.2.94.57)

पूर्वजन्मनि यद्दत्तं भक्त्या पात्रे सकृन्नरैः । जन्मांतरं सुसंप्राप्य नित्यमेव भुनक्ति च

pūrvajanmani yaddattaṁ bhaktyā pātre sakṛnnaraiḥ janmāṁtaraṁ susaṁprāpya nityameva bhunakti ca

"What is given once, with devotion, to a worthy recipient by men in a former birth - having obtained a subsequent birth, he enjoys it constantly."

Verse 58 (padma.2.94.58)

अन्नदानं प्रयच्छंति ब्राह्मणेभ्यो हि नित्यशः । मिष्टान्नपानं भुंजंति ते नरा अन्नदायिनः

annadānaṁ prayacchaṁti brāhmaṇebhyo hi nityaśaḥ miṣṭānnapānaṁ bhuṁjaṁti te narā annadāyinaḥ

"Those who always give the gift of food to brahmins, those givers of food, enjoy sweet food and drink."

Verse 59 (padma.2.94.59)

अन्नमेव वदंत्येत ऋषयो वेदपारगाः । प्राणभूतं न संदेहममृताद्धि समुद्भवम्

annameva vadaṁtyeta ṛṣayo vedapāragāḥ prāṇabhūtaṁ na saṁdehamamṛtāddhi samudbhavam

"The sages, versed in the Vedas, declare that food alone is the very embodiment of life-breath, without doubt, born from ambrosia."

Verse 60 (padma.2.94.60)

प्राणास्तेन प्रदत्ता हि येन चान्नं समर्पितम् । अन्नदानं महाराज देहि त्वं तु प्रयत्नतः

prāṇāstena pradattā hi yena cānnaṁ samarpitam annadānaṁ mahārāja dehi tvaṁ tu prayatnataḥ

"Life-breaths are given by him who has given food. Great king, you should give the gift of food with all effort."

Verse 61 (padma.2.94.61)

एवमाकर्ण्य वै राजा जैमिनेस्तु महात्मनः । पुनः पप्रच्छ तं विप्रं जैमिनिं ज्ञानपंडितम्

evamākarṇya vai rājā jaiminestu mahātmanaḥ punaḥ papraccha taṁ vipraṁ jaiminiṁ jñānapaṁḍitam

Having heard this from the great-souled Jaimini, the king again asked that learned brahmin Jaimini.