The Dharma of Giving

Verse 1 (padma.3.57.1)

व्यास उवाच । अथातः संप्रवक्ष्यामि दानधर्म्ममनुत्तमम् । ब्रह्मणाभिहितं पूर्वमृषीणां ब्रह्मवादिनाम् ।

vyāsa uvāca athātaḥ saṁpravakṣyāmi dānadharmmamanuttamam brahmaṇābhihitaṁ pūrvamṛṣīṇāṁ brahmavādinām

Vyasa said: Now, therefore, I shall declare the unsurpassed dharma of giving, as formerly stated by Brahma to the sages who speak of Brahman.

Verse 2 (padma.3.57.2)

अर्थानामुचितं पात्रे श्रद्धया प्रतिपादनम् । दानमित्यभिनिर्दिष्टं भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदम् ।

arthānāmucitaṁ pātre śraddhayā pratipādanam dānamityabhinirdiṣṭaṁ bhuktimuktiphalapradam

The bestowal of possessions upon a worthy recipient, with faith, is declared to be 'dana,' bestowing the fruit of both enjoyment and liberation.

Verse 3 (padma.3.57.3)

यो ददाति विशिष्टेभ्यः श्रद्धया परया युतः । तद्वै दत्तमहं मन्ये शेषं कस्यापि रक्षति ।

yo dadāti viśiṣṭebhyaḥ śraddhayā parayā yutaḥ tadvai dattamahaṁ manye śeṣaṁ kasyāpi rakṣati

Whoever gives to distinguished recipients, endowed with supreme faith — that alone I consider truly given; the rest merely preserves wealth for someone else.

Verse 4 (padma.3.57.4)

नित्यं नैमित्तिकं काम्यं त्रिविधं दानमुच्यते । चतुर्थं विमलं प्रोक्तं सर्वदानोत्तमोत्तमम् ।

nityaṁ naimittikaṁ kāmyaṁ trividhaṁ dānamucyate caturthaṁ vimalaṁ proktaṁ sarvadānottamottamam

Nitya, naimittika, and kamya — these three kinds of giving are spoken of. A fourth, called vimala, 'stainless,' is declared the very best among all gifts.

Verse 5 (padma.3.57.5)

अहन्यहनि यत्किंचिद्दीयते नुपकारिणे । अनुद्दिश्यफलं तस्माद्ब्राह्मणाय तु नित्यकम् ।

ahanyahani yatkiṁciddīyate nupakāriṇe anuddiśyaphalaṁ tasmādbrāhmaṇāya tu nityakam

Whatever, day after day, is given to one who offers no return, without aiming at any fruit therefrom, to a Brahmin — that is nitya, constant, giving.

Verse 6 (padma.3.57.6)

यत्तु पापोपशांत्यर्थं दीयते विदुषां करे । नैमित्तिकं तदुद्दिष्टं दानं सद्भिरनुत्तमम् ।

yattu pāpopaśāṁtyarthaṁ dīyate viduṣāṁ kare naimittikaṁ taduddiṣṭaṁ dānaṁ sadbhiranuttamam

That which is given into the hands of the learned for the pacification of sin is designated as naimittika giving, unsurpassed among the virtuous.

Verse 7 (padma.3.57.7)

अपत्यविजयैश्वर्य सुखार्थं यत्प्रदीयते । दानं तत्काम्यमाख्यातमृषिभिर्धर्मचिंतकैः ।

apatyavijayaiśvarya sukhārthaṁ yatpradīyate dānaṁ tatkāmyamākhyātamṛṣibhirdharmaciṁtakaiḥ

That which is given for the sake of offspring, victory, prosperity, or happiness is declared by the sages who reflect on dharma to be kamya giving.

Verse 8 (padma.3.57.8)

यदीश्वरस्य प्रीत्यर्थं ब्रह्मवित्सु प्रदीयते । चेतसा धर्मयुक्तेन दानं तद्विमलं शिवम् ।

yadīśvarasya prītyarthaṁ brahmavitsu pradīyate cetasā dharmayuktena dānaṁ tadvimalaṁ śivam

That which is given for the pleasure of the Lord, to those who know Brahman, with a mind joined to dharma — that gift is vimala and auspicious.

Verse 9 (padma.3.57.9)

दानधर्मं निषेवेत पात्रमासाद्य शक्तितः । उपास्यते तु तत्पात्रं यत्तारयति सर्वतः ।

dānadharmaṁ niṣeveta pātramāsādya śaktitaḥ upāsyate tu tatpātraṁ yattārayati sarvataḥ

One should practice the dharma of giving, having found a worthy recipient, according to one's ability. That recipient is to be honored who wholly delivers the giver in return.

Verse 10 (padma.3.57.10)

कुटुंबभुक्तिवसनाद्देयं यदतिरिच्यते । अन्यथा दीयते यद्वै न तद्दानं फलप्रदम् ।

kuṭuṁbabhuktivasanāddeyaṁ yadatiricyate anyathā dīyate yadvai na taddānaṁ phalapradam

What remains beyond the food and clothing needed for one's family is what should be given. Whatever is given otherwise is not a fruit-bearing gift.

Verse 11 (padma.3.57.11)

श्रोत्रियाय कुलीनाय विनीताय तपस्विने । व्रतस्थाय दरिद्राय प्रदेयं भक्तिपूर्वकम् ।

śrotriyāya kulīnāya vinītāya tapasvine vratasthāya daridrāya pradeyaṁ bhaktipūrvakam

It should be given devotedly to one learned in the Veda, of good family, modest, an ascetic, one established in a vow, or one who is poor.

Verse 12 (padma.3.57.12)

यस्तु दद्यान्महीं भक्त्या ब्राह्मणायाहिताग्नये । स याति परमं स्थानं यत्र गत्वा न शोचति ।

yastu dadyānmahīṁ bhaktyā brāhmaṇāyāhitāgnaye sa yāti paramaṁ sthānaṁ yatra gatvā na śocati

Whoever devotedly gives land to a Brahmin who maintains the sacred fires attains the supreme abode, arriving where he grieves no more.

Verse 13 (padma.3.57.13)

इक्षुभिः संयुतां भूमिं यवगोधूमशालिनीम् । ददाति वेदविदुषे यः स भूयो न जायते ।

ikṣubhiḥ saṁyutāṁ bhūmiṁ yavagodhūmaśālinīm dadāti vedaviduṣe yaḥ sa bhūyo na jāyate

Whoever gives land bearing sugarcane, or rich with barley and wheat, to one learned in the Veda, is never born again.

Verse 14 (padma.3.57.14)

गोचर्ममात्रामपि वा यो भूमिं संप्रयच्छति । ब्राह्मणाय दरिद्राय सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ।

gocarmamātrāmapi vā yo bhūmiṁ saṁprayacchati brāhmaṇāya daridrāya sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

Whoever gives even land as small as a cow's hide, to a poor Brahmin, is freed from all sins.

Verse 15 (padma.3.57.15)

भूमिदानात्परं दानं विद्यते नेह किंचन । अन्नदानं तेन तुल्यं विद्यादानं ततोधिकम् ।

bhūmidānātparaṁ dānaṁ vidyate neha kiṁcana annadānaṁ tena tulyaṁ vidyādānaṁ tatodhikam

There is no gift in this world higher than the gift of land. The gift of food is equal to it; the gift of knowledge is even greater.

Verse 16 (padma.3.57.16)

यो ब्राह्मणाय शांताय शुचये धर्मशीलिने । ददाति विद्यां विधिना ब्रह्मलोके महीयते ।

yo brāhmaṇāya śāṁtāya śucaye dharmaśīline dadāti vidyāṁ vidhinā brahmaloke mahīyate

Whoever duly gives knowledge to a Brahmin who is peaceful, pure, and devoted to dharma, is glorified in the world of Brahma.

Verse 17 (padma.3.57.17)

दद्यादहरहः स्वर्णं श्रद्धया ब्रह्मचारिणे । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो ब्रह्मणः स्थानमाप्नुयात् ।

dadyādaharahaḥ svarṇaṁ śraddhayā brahmacāriṇe sarvapāpavinirmukto brahmaṇaḥ sthānamāpnuyāt

One should give gold day after day, with faith, to a celibate student; freed from all sin, he attains the abode of Brahma.

Verse 18 (padma.3.57.18)

गृहस्थायान्नदानेन फलमाप्नोति मानवः । अन्नमेवास्य दातव्यं दत्वाप्नोति परां गतिम् ।

gṛhasthāyānnadānena phalamāpnoti mānavaḥ annamevāsya dātavyaṁ datvāpnoti parāṁ gatim

By giving food to a householder, a man obtains its fruit. Food alone should be given to him; having given it, one attains the supreme goal.

Verse 19 (padma.3.57.19)

वैशाख्यां पूर्णमास्यां तु ब्राह्मणान्सप्त पंच वा । उपोष्य विधिना शांतः शुचिः प्रयतमानसः ।

vaiśākhyāṁ pūrṇamāsyāṁ tu brāhmaṇānsapta paṁca vā upoṣya vidhinā śāṁtaḥ śuciḥ prayatamānasaḥ

On the full moon of Vaishakha, having fasted according to rule, tranquil, pure, and of controlled mind, one should honor seven or five Brahmins,

Verse 20 (padma.3.57.20)

पूजयित्वा तिलैः कृष्णैर्मधुना च विशेषतः । प्रीयतां धर्मराजेति यदा मनसि वर्त्तते ।

pūjayitvā tilaiḥ kṛṣṇairmadhunā ca viśeṣataḥ prīyatāṁ dharmarājeti yadā manasi varttate

worshipping them with black sesame and honey especially, thinking in his mind, 'May Dharmaraja be pleased' —

Verse 21 (padma.3.57.21)

यावज्जीवं तु यत्पापं तत्क्षणादेव नश्यति । कृष्णाजिने तिलान्कृत्वा हिरण्यं मधुसर्पिषी ।

yāvajjīvaṁ tu yatpāpaṁ tatkṣaṇādeva naśyati kṛṣṇājine tilānkṛtvā hiraṇyaṁ madhusarpiṣī

whatever sin has accumulated through his whole life is destroyed at that very moment. Placing sesame on a black antelope skin, together with gold, honey, and ghee —

Verse 22 (padma.3.57.22)

ददाति यस्तु विप्राय सर्वं तरति दुष्कृतम् । घृतान्नमुदकुंभं च वैशाख्यां तु विशेषतः ।

dadāti yastu viprāya sarvaṁ tarati duṣkṛtam ghṛtānnamudakuṁbhaṁ ca vaiśākhyāṁ tu viśeṣataḥ

whoever gives it to a Brahmin crosses over all his misdeeds. Ghee-laden food and a water-pot, especially in the month of Vaishakha —

Verse 23 (padma.3.57.23)

निर्द्दिश्य धर्मराजाय विप्रेभ्यो मुच्यते भयात् । सुवर्णतिलयुक्तैस्तु ब्राह्मणान्सप्त पंच वा ।

nirddiśya dharmarājāya viprebhyo mucyate bhayāt suvarṇatilayuktaistu brāhmaṇānsapta paṁca vā

dedicated to Dharmaraja and given to Brahmins, he is freed from fear. With sesame mixed with gold, seven or five Brahmins —

Verse 24 (padma.3.57.24)

तर्पयेदुदपात्रैस्तु ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति । माघमासे तमिस्रे तु द्वादश्यां समुपोषितः ।

tarpayedudapātraistu brahmahatyāṁ vyapohati māghamāse tamisre tu dvādaśyāṁ samupoṣitaḥ

should be satisfied with water-vessels; this dispels the sin of killing a Brahmin. On the twelfth day of the dark fortnight of Magha, having fasted,

Verse 25 (padma.3.57.25)

शुक्लांबरधरः कृष्णैस्तिलैर्हुत्वा हुताशनम् । प्रदद्याद्ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तु तिलानेव समाहितः ।

śuklāṁbaradharaḥ kṛṣṇaistilairhutvā hutāśanam pradadyādbrāhmaṇebhyastu tilāneva samāhitaḥ

clad in white garments, having offered black sesame into the fire, one should, with composed mind, give sesame to Brahmins;

Verse 26 (padma.3.57.26)

जन्मप्रभृति यत्पापं सर्वं तरति वै द्विजः । अमावास्यामनुप्राप्य ब्राह्मणाय तपस्विने ।

janmaprabhṛti yatpāpaṁ sarvaṁ tarati vai dvijaḥ amāvāsyāmanuprāpya brāhmaṇāya tapasvine

by this, a twice-born crosses over all sin accumulated since his birth. On the new moon, whatever is given to an ascetic Brahmin —

Verse 27 (padma.3.57.27)

यत्किंचिद्देवदेवेशं दद्याच्चोद्दिश्य केशवम् । प्रीयतामीश्वरो विष्णुर्हृषीकेशः सनातनः ।

yatkiṁciddevadeveśaṁ dadyāccoddiśya keśavam prīyatāmīśvaro viṣṇurhṛṣīkeśaḥ sanātanaḥ

dedicated to the lord of gods, Keshava, thinking, 'may the eternal lord Vishnu Hrishikesha be pleased' —

Verse 28 (padma.3.57.28)

सप्तजन्मकृतं पापं तत्क्षणादेव नश्यति । यस्तु कृष्णचतुर्दश्यां स्नात्वा देवं पिनाकिनम् ।

saptajanmakṛtaṁ pāpaṁ tatkṣaṇādeva naśyati yastu kṛṣṇacaturdaśyāṁ snātvā devaṁ pinākinam

by this, sin committed over seven births is destroyed in that very instant. Whoever, on the dark fourteenth day, having bathed, worships the trident-bearing god —

Verse 29 (padma.3.57.29)

आराधयेद्द्विजमुखेन तस्यास्ति पुनर्भवः । कृष्णाष्टम्यां विशेषेण धार्मिकाय द्विजातये ।

ārādhayeddvijamukhena tasyāsti punarbhavaḥ kṛṣṇāṣṭamyāṁ viśeṣeṇa dhārmikāya dvijātaye

through the mediation of a Brahmin, for him there is freedom from rebirth. Especially on the dark eighth day, to a righteous twice-born —

Verse 30 (padma.3.57.30)

स्नात्वाभ्यर्च्य यथान्यायं पादप्रक्षालनादिभिः । प्रीयतां मे महादेवो दद्याद्द्रव्यं स्वकीयकम् ।

snātvābhyarcya yathānyāyaṁ pādaprakṣālanādibhiḥ prīyatāṁ me mahādevo dadyāddravyaṁ svakīyakam

having bathed and duly worshipped him with foot-washing and the like, saying 'may Mahadeva be pleased with me,' one should give him his own wealth.

Verse 31 (padma.3.57.31)

सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः प्राप्नोति परमां गतिम् । द्विजैः कृष्णचतुर्दश्यां कृष्णाष्टम्यां विशेषतः ।

sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ prāpnoti paramāṁ gatim dvijaiḥ kṛṣṇacaturdaśyāṁ kṛṣṇāṣṭamyāṁ viśeṣataḥ

Freed from all sin, one attains the supreme goal. By the twice-born, especially on the dark fourteenth and dark eighth,

Verse 32 (padma.3.57.32)

अमावास्यां तथा भक्तैः पूजनीयस्त्रिविक्रमः । एकादश्यां निराहारो द्वादश्यां पुरुषोत्तमम् ।

amāvāsyāṁ tathā bhaktaiḥ pūjanīyastrivikramaḥ ekādaśyāṁ nirāhāro dvādaśyāṁ puruṣottamam

and on the new moon, Trivikrama should be worshipped by devotees. Fasting entirely on the eleventh day, on the twelfth, Purushottama —

Verse 33 (padma.3.57.33)

अर्चयेद्ब्राह्मणमुखे स गच्छेत्परमं पदम् । एषा तिथिर्वैष्णवी स्याद्द्वादशी शुक्लपक्षतः ।

arcayedbrāhmaṇamukhe sa gacchetparamaṁ padam eṣā tithirvaiṣṇavī syāddvādaśī śuklapakṣataḥ

should be worshipped through the mediation of a Brahmin; he attains the supreme abode. This twelfth day of the bright fortnight is Vishnu's own lunar day.

Verse 34 (padma.3.57.34)

तस्यामाराधयेद्देवं प्रयत्नेन जनार्दनम् । यत्किंचिद्देवमीशानमुद्दिश्य ब्राह्मणे शुचौ ।

tasyāmārādhayeddevaṁ prayatnena janārdanam yatkiṁciddevamīśānamuddiśya brāhmaṇe śucau

On it, one should diligently worship the god Janardana. Whatever, dedicated to the lord Ishana, is given to a pure Brahmin —

Verse 35 (padma.3.57.35)

दीयते विष्णुमेवापि तदनंतफलं स्मृतम् । यो हि यां देवतामिच्छेत्समाराधयितुं नरः ।

dīyate viṣṇumevāpi tadanaṁtaphalaṁ smṛtam yo hi yāṁ devatāmicchetsamārādhayituṁ naraḥ

or given to Vishnu himself — that is remembered as bearing boundless fruit. For whichever deity a man wishes to properly worship —

Verse 36 (padma.3.57.36)

ब्राह्मणान्पूजयेद्यत्नात्स तस्यास्तोषयेत्ततः । द्विजानां वपुरास्थाय नित्यं तिष्ठंति देवताः ।

brāhmaṇānpūjayedyatnātsa tasyāstoṣayettataḥ dvijānāṁ vapurāsthāya nityaṁ tiṣṭhaṁti devatāḥ

he should diligently worship the Brahmins, for thereby he pleases that deity. Having taken up residence in the bodies of the twice-born, the deities dwell there eternally.

Verse 37 (padma.3.57.37)

पूज्यंते ब्राह्मणा लाभे प्रतिमादिषु तैः क्वचित् । प्रतिमादिषु यत्नेन तस्मात्फलमभीप्सता ।

pūjyaṁte brāhmaṇā lābhe pratimādiṣu taiḥ kvacit pratimādiṣu yatnena tasmātphalamabhīpsatā

Just as deities are worshipped in images, so too Brahmins should be worshipped on occasions of gain; therefore one desiring fruit should diligently, as with image-worship —

Verse 38 (padma.3.57.38)

द्विजेषु देवता नित्यं पूजनीया विशेषतः । विभूतिकामः सततं पूजयेद्धि पुरंदरम् ।

dvijeṣu devatā nityaṁ pūjanīyā viśeṣataḥ vibhūtikāmaḥ satataṁ pūjayeddhi puraṁdaram

worship the deities in the twice-born ever and specially. One who desires prosperity should constantly worship Purandara.

Verse 39 (padma.3.57.39)

ब्रह्मवर्चसकामस्तु ब्रह्माणं ज्ञानकामुकः । आरोग्यकामोथ रविं धनकामो हुताशनम् ।

brahmavarcasakāmastu brahmāṇaṁ jñānakāmukaḥ ārogyakāmotha raviṁ dhanakāmo hutāśanam

One who desires Brahmanical splendor and knowledge should worship Brahma; one who desires health, the sun; one who desires wealth, fire.

Verse 40 (padma.3.57.40)

कर्म्मणां सिद्धिकामस्तु पूजयेद्वै विनायकम् । भोगकामस्तु शशिनं बलकामः समीरणम् ।

karmmaṇāṁ siddhikāmastu pūjayedvai vināyakam bhogakāmastu śaśinaṁ balakāmaḥ samīraṇam

One who desires success in undertakings should worship Vinayaka. One who desires enjoyment, the moon; one who desires strength, the wind.

Verse 41 (padma.3.57.41)

मुमुक्षुः सर्वसंसारात्प्रयत्नेनार्चयेद्धरिम् । यस्तु योगं तथा मोक्षमन्विच्छेऽज्ज्ञानमैश्वरम् ।

mumukṣuḥ sarvasaṁsārātprayatnenārcayeddharim yastu yogaṁ tathā mokṣamanvicche'jjñānamaiśvaram

One who desires release from all worldly existence should diligently worship Hari. And whoever desires yoga, or liberation, or Ishvara's own knowledge —

Verse 42 (padma.3.57.42)

अर्चयेत विरूपाक्षं प्रयत्नेन सुरेश्वरम् । ये वांच्छंति महाभोगान्ज्ञानानि च महेश्वरम् ।

arcayeta virūpākṣaṁ prayatnena sureśvaram ye vāṁcchaṁti mahābhogānjñānāni ca maheśvaram

should diligently worship Virupaksha, the lord of the gods. Those who desire great enjoyments, knowledge, and Maheshvara —

Verse 43 (padma.3.57.43)

ते पूजयंति भूतेशं केशवं चापि भोगिनः । वारिदस्तृप्तिमाप्नोति जलदानं ततोधिकम् ।

te pūjayaṁti bhūteśaṁ keśavaṁ cāpi bhoginaḥ vāridastṛptimāpnoti jaladānaṁ tatodhikam

such enjoyers worship both Bhuteshvara and Keshava. A giver of water obtains satisfaction; and beyond that is the merit of giving water for irrigation.

Verse 44 (padma.3.57.44)

तैलप्रदः प्रजामिष्टां दीपदश्चक्षुरुत्तमम् । भूमिदः सर्वमाप्नोति दीर्घमायुर्हिरण्यदः ।

tailapradaḥ prajāmiṣṭāṁ dīpadaścakṣuruttamam bhūmidaḥ sarvamāpnoti dīrghamāyurhiraṇyadaḥ

A giver of oil obtains desired offspring; a giver of a lamp, excellent eyesight; a giver of land obtains everything; a giver of gold, long life.

Verse 45 (padma.3.57.45)

गृहदाताग्र्यवेश्मानि रूप्यदो रूपमुत्तमम् । वासोदश्चंद्रसालोक्यमश्वदो यानमुत्तमम् ।

gṛhadātāgryaveśmāni rūpyado rūpamuttamam vāsodaścaṁdrasālokyamaśvado yānamuttamam

A giver of a house obtains excellent dwellings; a giver of silver obtains excellent beauty; a giver of clothing obtains proximity to the moon-world; a giver of a horse obtains an excellent vehicle.

Verse 46 (padma.3.57.46)

अन्नदाता श्रियं स्वेष्टां गोदो ब्राह्मणविष्टपम् । यानशय्याप्रदो भार्य्यामैश्वर्यमभयप्रदः ।

annadātā śriyaṁ sveṣṭāṁ godo brāhmaṇaviṣṭapam yānaśayyāprado bhāryyāmaiśvaryamabhayapradaḥ

A giver of food obtains his own desired prosperity; a giver of cows, the world of Brahmins; a giver of a vehicle or bed, a good wife; a giver of protection from fear, sovereignty.

Verse 47 (padma.3.57.47)

धान्यदः शाश्वतं सौख्यं ब्रह्मदो ब्रह्मशाश्वतम् । धान्यान्यपि यथाशक्ति विप्रेषु प्रतिपादयेत् ।

dhānyadaḥ śāśvataṁ saukhyaṁ brahmado brahmaśāśvatam dhānyānyapi yathāśakti vipreṣu pratipādayet

A giver of grain obtains eternal happiness; a giver of Brahma-knowledge, eternal Brahman itself. One should, according to one's ability, give grains as well to Brahmins,

Verse 48 (padma.3.57.48)

वेदविद्याविशिष्टेषु प्रेत्य स्वर्गं समश्नुते । गवां चान्नप्रदानेन सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ।

vedavidyāviśiṣṭeṣu pretya svargaṁ samaśnute gavāṁ cānnapradānena sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

given to those distinguished in Vedic learning, one attains heaven after death. Through the gift of fodder for cattle, one is freed from all sins.

Verse 49 (padma.3.57.49)

इंधनानां प्रदानेन दीप्ताग्निर्जायते नरः । फलमूलानि पानानि शाकानि विविधानि च ।

iṁdhanānāṁ pradānena dīptāgnirjāyate naraḥ phalamūlāni pānāni śākāni vividhāni ca

Through the gift of firewood, a man is born with blazing spiritual fire. Fruits, roots, drinks, and various vegetables —

Verse 50 (padma.3.57.50)

प्रदद्याद्ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तु मुदायुक्तः सदा भवेत् । औषधं स्नेहमाहारं रोगिणो रोगशांतये ।

pradadyādbrāhmaṇebhyastu mudāyuktaḥ sadā bhavet auṣadhaṁ snehamāhāraṁ rogiṇo rogaśāṁtaye

one should give to Brahmins, and should always remain joyful. Medicine, ointment, and food, for the alleviation of a sick person's ailment —

Verse 51 (padma.3.57.51)

ददानो रोगरहितः सुखी दीर्घायुरेव च । असिपत्रवनं मार्गं क्षुरधारासमन्वितम् ।

dadāno rogarahitaḥ sukhī dīrghāyureva ca asipatravanaṁ mārgaṁ kṣuradhārāsamanvitam

one who gives these becomes free of disease, happy, and long-lived. The path through the forest of sword-blade leaves, filled with razor-edges,

Verse 52 (padma.3.57.52)

तीक्ष्णतापं च तरति छत्रोपानत्प्रदो नरः । यद्यदिष्टतमं लोके यच्चास्यापेक्षितं गृहे ।

tīkṣṇatāpaṁ ca tarati chatropānatprado naraḥ yadyadiṣṭatamaṁ loke yaccāsyāpekṣitaṁ gṛhe

and its scorching heat, a man crosses over if he has given umbrellas and sandals. Whatever is most desired in this world, and whatever is needed in one's house —

Verse 53 (padma.3.57.53)

तत्तद्गुणवते देयं तदेवाक्षयमिच्छता । अयने विषुवे चैव ग्रहणे चंद्रसूर्ययोः ।

tattadguṇavate deyaṁ tadevākṣayamicchatā ayane viṣuve caiva grahaṇe caṁdrasūryayoḥ

that very thing should be given to a virtuous recipient by one desiring its imperishable fruit. At a solstice, at an equinox, and during an eclipse of the moon or sun,

Verse 54 (padma.3.57.54)

संक्रांत्यादिषु कालेषु दत्तं भवति चाक्षयम् । प्रयागादिषु तीर्थेषु पुण्येष्वायतनेषु च ।

saṁkrāṁtyādiṣu kāleṣu dattaṁ bhavati cākṣayam prayāgādiṣu tīrtheṣu puṇyeṣvāyataneṣu ca

and on occasions such as the sankranti, whatever is given becomes imperishable. At Prayaga and other tirthas, at sacred shrines,

Verse 55 (padma.3.57.55)

दत्वा चाक्षयमाप्नोति नदीप्रस्रवणेषु च । दानधर्मात्परो धर्मो भूतानां नेह विद्यते ।

datvā cākṣayamāpnoti nadīprasravaṇeṣu ca dānadharmātparo dharmo bhūtānāṁ neha vidyate

and at rivers and springs — giving there, one obtains an imperishable result. There is no dharma higher than the dharma of giving for beings in this world.

Verse 56 (padma.3.57.56)

तस्माद्विप्राय दातव्यं श्रोत्रियाय द्विजातिभिः । स्वर्गाय भूतिकामेन तथा पापोपशांतये ।

tasmādviprāya dātavyaṁ śrotriyāya dvijātibhiḥ svargāya bhūtikāmena tathā pāpopaśāṁtaye

Therefore a gift should be given to a Brahmin, to one learned in the Veda, by the twice-born, for the sake of heaven, prosperity, and the pacification of sin.

Verse 57 (padma.3.57.57)

मुमुक्षुणा तु दातव्यं ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तथान्वहम् । दीयमानं तु यो मोहाद्गोविप्राग्निसुरेषु च ।

mumukṣuṇā tu dātavyaṁ brāhmaṇebhyastathānvaham dīyamānaṁ tu yo mohādgoviprāgnisureṣu ca

And one who seeks liberation should give to Brahmins continually, day after day. Whoever, out of delusion, obstructs a gift being made to a cow, a Brahmin, fire, or the gods —

Verse 58 (padma.3.57.58)

निवारयत्यधर्मात्मा तिर्यग्योनिं व्रजेत सः । यस्तु द्रव्यार्जनं कृत्वा नार्चयेद्ब्राह्मणान्सुरान् ।

nivārayatyadharmātmā tiryagyoniṁ vrajeta saḥ yastu dravyārjanaṁ kṛtvā nārcayedbrāhmaṇānsurān

such an unrighteous person is born in an animal womb. Whoever, having earned wealth, does not honor Brahmins and the gods —

Verse 59 (padma.3.57.59)

सर्वस्वमपहृत्यैनं राजा राष्ट्रात्प्रवासयेत् । यस्तु दुर्भिक्षवेलायामन्नाद्यं न प्रयच्छति ।

sarvasvamapahṛtyainaṁ rājā rāṣṭrātpravāsayet yastu durbhikṣavelāyāmannādyaṁ na prayacchati

the king should confiscate all his property and banish him from the kingdom. Whoever, in a time of famine, does not give food while Brahmins are dying,

Verse 60 (padma.3.57.60)

म्रियमाणेषु विप्रेषु ब्राह्मणः स तु गर्हितः । न तस्मात्प्रतिगृह्णीयुः न वसेयुश्च तेन हि ।

mriyamāṇeṣu vipreṣu brāhmaṇaḥ sa tu garhitaḥ na tasmātpratigṛhṇīyuḥ na vaseyuśca tena hi

such a Brahmin is to be condemned. No one should accept gifts from him, nor dwell together with him;

Verse 61 (padma.3.57.61)

आज्ञायित्वा स्वकाद्राष्ट्राद्राजा तं विप्रवासयेत् । पश्चात्सद्भ्यो ददातीह स्वद्रव्यं धर्मसाधनम् ।

ājñāyitvā svakādrāṣṭrādrājā taṁ vipravāsayet paścātsadbhyo dadātīha svadravyaṁ dharmasādhanam

knowing this, the king should banish him from his own kingdom. Whoever, after unrighteously accumulating wealth, later gives it to the virtuous as a means of dharma —

Verse 62 (padma.3.57.62)

सपूर्वाभ्यधिकः पापी नरके पच्यते नरः । स्वाध्यायवंतो ये विप्रा विद्यावंतो जितेंद्रियाः ।

sapūrvābhyadhikaḥ pāpī narake pacyate naraḥ svādhyāyavaṁto ye viprā vidyāvaṁto jiteṁdriyāḥ

such a man, more sinful than before, is cooked in hell. Brahmins who are devoted to self-study, learned, and of controlled senses,

Verse 63 (padma.3.57.63)

सत्यसंयमसंयुक्तास्तेभ्यो दद्याद्द्विजोत्तमाः । प्रभुक्तमपि विद्वांसं धार्मिकं भोजयेद्द्विजम् ।

satyasaṁyamasaṁyuktāstebhyo dadyāddvijottamāḥ prabhuktamapi vidvāṁsaṁ dhārmikaṁ bhojayeddvijam

endowed with truth and self-discipline — to these the best of the twice-born should give. Even one already fed, if he is a learned and righteous twice-born, should be fed further,

Verse 64 (padma.3.57.64)

न च मूर्खमवृत्तस्थं दशरात्रमुपोषितम् । सन्निकृष्टमतिक्रम्य श्रोत्रियं यः प्रयच्छति ।

na ca mūrkhamavṛttasthaṁ daśarātramupoṣitam sannikṛṣṭamatikramya śrotriyaṁ yaḥ prayacchati

but not a fool devoid of proper conduct, even if he has fasted for ten nights. Whoever, bypassing a nearby learned Brahmin, gives elsewhere —

Verse 65 (padma.3.57.65)

स तेन कर्मणा पापी दहत्यासप्तमं कुलम् । यदि स्यादधिको विप्रः शीलविद्यादिभिः स्वयम् ।

sa tena karmaṇā pāpī dahatyāsaptamaṁ kulam yadi syādadhiko vipraḥ śīlavidyādibhiḥ svayam

by that deed he becomes sinful, and burns his own family up to the seventh generation. If a Brahmin should himself be superior in character, learning, and the like —

Verse 66 (padma.3.57.66)

तस्मै यत्नेन दातव्यमतिक्रम्य च सन्निधिम् । योर्चितं प्रतिगृह्णीयाद्दद्यादर्चितमेव च ।

tasmai yatnena dātavyamatikramya ca sannidhim yorcitaṁ pratigṛhṇīyāddadyādarcitameva ca

one should diligently give to him, even bypassing proximity. Whoever accepts a gift worthily offered, and whoever gives it worthily —

Verse 67 (padma.3.57.67)

तावुभौ गच्छतः स्वर्गं नरकं तु विपर्यये । न वार्यपि प्रयच्छेत नास्तिके हैतुकेपि च ।

tāvubhau gacchataḥ svargaṁ narakaṁ tu viparyaye na vāryapi prayaccheta nāstike haitukepi ca

both of them go to heaven; in the opposite case, they go to hell. One should not give even water to an atheist, or to a mere logician-skeptic,

Verse 68 (padma.3.57.68)

न पाखंडेषु सर्वेषु नावेदविदिधर्मवित् । रूप्यं चैव हिरण्यं च गामश्वं पृथिवीं तिलान् ।

na pākhaṁḍeṣu sarveṣu nāvedavididharmavit rūpyaṁ caiva hiraṇyaṁ ca gāmaśvaṁ pṛthivīṁ tilān

nor to any heretics, nor to one who knows dharma but not the Veda. Silver, gold, a cow, a horse, land, sesame —

Verse 69 (padma.3.57.69)

अविद्वान्प्रतिगृह्णीयाद्भस्मी भवति काष्ठवत् । द्विजातिभ्यो धनं लिप्सेत्प्रशस्तेभ्यो द्विजोतमः ।

avidvānpratigṛhṇīyādbhasmī bhavati kāṣṭhavat dvijātibhyo dhanaṁ lipsetpraśastebhyo dvijotamaḥ

if an unlearned man accepts these, he is reduced to ashes, like wood. The best of the twice-born should seek wealth from praiseworthy twice-born givers,

Verse 70 (padma.3.57.70)

अपि राजन्यवैश्याभ्यां न तु शूद्रात्कथंचन । वृत्तिसंकोचमन्विच्छेन्नेहेत धनविस्तरम् ।

api rājanyavaiśyābhyāṁ na tu śūdrātkathaṁcana vṛttisaṁkocamanvicchenneheta dhanavistaram

even from Kshatriyas and Vaishyas, but never in any way from a Shudra. He should desire only a modest livelihood, and should not seek an abundance of wealth.

Verse 71 (padma.3.57.71)

धनलोभे प्रसक्तस्तु ब्राह्मण्यादेव हीयते । वेदानधीत्य सकलान्यज्ञांश्चावाप्य सर्वशः ।

dhanalobhe prasaktastu brāhmaṇyādeva hīyate vedānadhītya sakalānyajñāṁścāvāpya sarvaśaḥ

For one attached to greed for wealth falls away from Brahminhood itself. Having studied all the Vedas, and having performed every kind of sacrifice —

Verse 72 (padma.3.57.72)

न तां गतिमवाप्नोति संतोषाद्यामवाप्नुयात् । प्रतिग्रहरुचिर्न स्याच्छूद्रान्न तु समाहरेत् ।

na tāṁ gatimavāpnoti saṁtoṣādyāmavāpnuyāt pratigraharucirna syācchūdrānna tu samāharet

he still does not attain that state which he would attain through simple contentment. He should have no fondness for receiving gifts, and should not accumulate wealth from Shudras.

Verse 73 (padma.3.57.73)

स्थित्यर्थादधिकं गृह्णन्ब्राह्मणो यात्यधोगतिम् । यस्तु याति न संतोषं न स स्वर्गस्य भाजनम् ।

sthityarthādadhikaṁ gṛhṇanbrāhmaṇo yātyadhogatim yastu yāti na saṁtoṣaṁ na sa svargasya bhājanam

A Brahmin who accepts more than what is needed for subsistence falls into a lower state. Whoever does not attain contentment does not become a partaker of heaven.

Verse 74 (padma.3.57.74)

उद्वेजयति भूतानि यथा चौरस्तथैव सः । गुरुं भृत्यांश्चोज्जिहीर्षुस्तर्पयन्देवतातिथीन् ।

udvejayati bhūtāni yathā caurastathaiva saḥ guruṁ bhṛtyāṁścojjihīrṣustarpayandevatātithīn

Such a man causes beings distress, just as a thief does. Wishing to support his guru and dependents, and to satisfy the gods and guests —

Verse 75 (padma.3.57.75)

सर्वतः प्रतिगृह्णीयान्न तु तृप्येत्स्वयं ततः । एवं गृहस्थो युक्तात्मा देवतातिथिपूजकः ।

sarvataḥ pratigṛhṇīyānna tu tṛpyetsvayaṁ tataḥ evaṁ gṛhastho yuktātmā devatātithipūjakaḥ

he may accept gifts from all sources, but should himself never become satiated by them. Thus a householder, self-controlled, a worshipper of gods and guests,

Verse 76 (padma.3.57.76)

वर्तमानः संयतात्मा याति तत्परमं पदम् । पुत्रेषु भार्यां निक्षिप्य गत्वारण्यं तु तत्त्ववित् ।

vartamānaḥ saṁyatātmā yāti tatparamaṁ padam putreṣu bhāryāṁ nikṣipya gatvāraṇyaṁ tu tattvavit

living thus, with a disciplined self, attains that supreme state. Having entrusted his wife to his sons, the knower of truth, going to the forest —

Verse 77 (padma.3.57.77)

एकाकी विचरेन्नित्यमुदासीनः समाहितः । एष वः कथितो धर्म्मो गृहस्थानां द्विजोत्तमाः । ज्ञात्वा तु तिष्ठेन्नियतं तथानुष्ठापयेद्द्विजान् ।

ekākī vicarennityamudāsīnaḥ samāhitaḥ eṣa vaḥ kathito dharmmo gṛhasthānāṁ dvijottamāḥ jñātvā tu tiṣṭhenniyataṁ tathānuṣṭhāpayeddvijān

should wander alone, ever detached, composed. This is the dharma of householders declared to you, O best of the twice-born; having understood it, one should observe it strictly, and cause other twice-born to practice it as well.

Verse 78 (padma.3.57.78)

इति देवमनादिमेकमीशं गृहधर्मेण समर्चयेदजस्रम् । समतीत्य स सर्वभूतयोनिं प्रकृतिं याति परं न याति जन्म ।

iti devamanādimekamīśaṁ gṛhadharmeṇa samarcayedajasram samatītya sa sarvabhūtayoniṁ prakṛtiṁ yāti paraṁ na yāti janma

Thus one should ceaselessly worship the one beginningless God through the dharma of the householder. Having passed beyond the womb of all beings, he attains the supreme Prakriti, and does not undergo birth again.